Orihuela, Diocese of

ORIHUELA, DIOCESE of. – City and diocese in the civil province of Alicante, in Spain.

It extends over 3,200 sq km, with 445,000 inhabitants, of whom 444,000 are Catholics, distributed among 81 parishes. It has 176 diocesan priests and 55 religious priests, one seminary, 14 male and 50 female religious communities (Ann. Pont., 1952, p. 302).

The oral tradition that it was founded by Bishop Indalecius in the 1st century rests on no authoritative document, nor can it be demonstrated that in the 3rd century it was governed by a bishop named Eulogian. If this diocese predates the Middle Ages, it was certainly destroyed by the Saracens, who had ruled Spain since the 8th century and from whom this region was liberated through the action of King James I of Aragon in the 13th century. The principal church of O. was granted the title of collegiate church by the antipope Benedict XIII, confirmed in 1418 by Martin V. Its elevation to a cathedral was sought in 1440, but, given the difficulties, it was granted only the privilege of a general vicariate. Julius II intended it to be a cathedral in 1513, but «sub uno pastore» together with the

diocese of Cartagena. Finally, in 1564, the episcopal see was erected. By order of Pius IV, three cardinals were appointed, who were to investigate, hearing the interested parties, the advisability of separating the church of O. from that of Cartagena. On 14 July of that same year the bull was published, thereby yielding to the requests of King Philip II, who presented as the first bishop maestro Gregorio Gallo of Burgos. The Cathedral, dedicated to the Most Holy Savior and the Virgin Mary Assumed into Heaven, presents a combination of Gothic and neoclassical styles; the Castilian and Valencian schools took part in its construction: the former is distinguished in the naves, the latter in the chapels. Also noteworthy is the collegiate church of Alicante, built by King Alfonso the Wise, son of s. Ferdinand, and rebuilt in the 17th century. The diocese has s. Vincent Ferrer as its patron.