Abla is a municipality, former bishopric and Latin Catholic titular see in Almería province, in Andalusia, southeast Spain.

Abla
Flag of Abla
Coat of arms of Abla
Abla is located in Spain
Abla
Abla
Coordinates: 37°8′33″N 2°46′38″W / 37.14250°N 2.77722°W / 37.14250; -2.77722
Country Spain
CommunityAndalusia
ProvinceAlmería
Government
 • MayorAntonio Manuel Ortiz Bono
(PSOE-A) (2015–2019)
Area
 • Total45.24 km2 (17.47 sq mi)
Elevation
861 m (2,825 ft)
Population
 (2018)[1]
 • Total1,235
 • Density27/km2 (71/sq mi)
DemonymAbulense
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)

History

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It is considered to be the Abula mentioned by Ptolemy in his Geographia (II 6, 60) as located in the Iberian region of Bastetania.[2][3]

Another candidate for identification with ancient Abula is Ávila, which may instead have been the ancient Obila.[4]

Ecclesiastical history

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Abula is said to be one of the first cities in Hispania that were Christianized, specifically by Saint Secundus, one of the group of Seven Apostolic Men (siete varones apostólicos), Christian clerics ordained in Rome by Saints Peter and Paul and sent to evangelize Spain.[2][4]

Little is known of a second bishop of Abula, called Iulius, possibly his successor, living around 100 AD. No other incumbents were recorded.

Titular see

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No longer a residential see, Abula is today listed by the Catholic Church as a Latin titular bishopric since the diocese was nominally restored in 1969.[3]

It has had the following incumbents, so far of the fitting episcopal (lowest) rank:[5]

Demographics

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Historical population
YearPop.±%
19991,519—    
20001,516−0.2%
20011,517+0.1%
20021,529+0.8%
20031,480−3.2%
20041,482+0.1%
20051,512+2.0%
20061,505−0.5%
20071,514+0.6%
20081,503−0.7%
20091,504+0.1%
20101,463−2.7%
20111,480+1.2%
20121,465−1.0%
20131,422−2.9%
20141,426+0.3%
20151,342−5.9%
20161,294−3.6%
20171,267−2.1%
20181,235−2.5%
20191,249+1.1%
20201,248−0.1%
Source: INE (Spain)


See also

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References

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  1. ^ Municipal Register of Spain 2018. National Statistics Institute.
  2. ^ a b "Ayuntamiento de Abla". www.dipalme.org. Retrieved 30 August 2017.
  3. ^ a b Annuario Pontificio 2013 (Libreria Editrice Vaticana 2013 ISBN 978-88-209-9070-1), p. 822
  4. ^ a b Avitiano (23 December 2008). "Abulenses". Centro de estudios abulenses. Retrieved 27 September 2014.
  5. ^ "Titular See of Abula, Spain". GCatholic. Retrieved 30 August 2017.
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