Piana dei Greci (degli Albanesi), Diocese of

PIANA DEI GRECI (degli Albanesi), Diocese of. - Since 1937 it has been the seat of the Greek eparchy or diocese, with jurisdiction over the territory of Piana, detached from Monreale, and over that of S. Cristiana, detached from Palermo, and with personal jurisdiction over the other parishes, churches, oratories and houses of the Greek Byzantine rite in Sicily. Piana is the largest of the Italo-Albanian communes (v.): the Tuscan Albanian dialect is spoken there, the traditional women's costume is still worn, and the Greek rite flourishes there, whence the name Piana dei Greci.

Cardinal Giovanni Borgia, archbishop, granted the Albanians two fiefs, Merco and Aindingli in the Val di Mazara (deed of 30 Aug. 1488 by the notary N. Altavilla of Palermo). Several rural churches and oratories arose. Around 1590 there and 6 parishes, the one of the Latin rite in the church of St. Vitus, ceded to a chaplain of this rite on 18 Nov. 1590 (act of the notary Pietro Vienna of Monreale). In P. the cult of the patroness Madonna Odigitria and of St. George and St. Demetrius as co-patrons predominates. Institutions: the Seminary, founded through the zeal of Fr. G. Guzzetta (v.) in 1734 and now provided with new premises through the efforts of the S. Congregation for the Eastern Church; College of Mary; house of the Basilian sisters; University Institute in Palermo; Institute for the orphans of peasants entrusted to the Basilians; infant asylum; hospital (1626); almshouse.