Wikipedia

Roman Catholic Diocese of Bilbao

The Diocese of Bilbao (Latin: Dioecesis Flaviobrigensis) is a Latin Church diocese of the Catholic Church located in the city of Bilbao and Province of Biscay in Northern Spain. It is part of the ecclesiastical province of Burgos.

Diocese of Bilbao

Dioecesis Flaviobrigensis

Diócesis de Bilbao (es)
Bilboko elizbarrutia (eu)
Bilbao Cathedral
Location
Country Spain
Ecclesiastical provinceBurgos
MetropolitanBurgos
Statistics
Area2,193 km2 (847 sq mi)
Population
- Total
- Catholics		(as of 2012)
1,172,900
1,146,400 (97.7%)
Information
RiteLatin Rite
CathedralCathedral of St James in Bilbao
Current leadership
PopeFrancis
BishopJoseba Segura Etxezarraga
Metropolitan ArchbishopMario Iceta Gavicagogeascoa
Map
Website
Website of the Diocese

History

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  • November 2, 1949: Established as Diocese of Bilbao from the dioceses of Vitoria and Santander.

Territory

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The Diocese of Bilbao covers all the territory of Biscay, except the exclave of Orduña (between Alava and Burgos), and including the tiny enclave of Valle de Villaverde (Cantabria). The diocese is divided in seven territorial vicarages:

  1. Encartaciones Bajas
  2. Encartaciones Altas
  3. Bilbao-Abando
  4. Durango-Arratia
  5. Gernikaldea
  6. Bilbao-Begoña

Bishops of Bilbao

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Special churches

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Bilbao's Cathedral of Santiago.
  • Minor Basilicas:
    • Basílica de la Asunción de Nuestra Señora/Andra Mariaren Zeruratzea, Lekeitio, Vizcaya, País Vasco
    • Basílica de la Purísima Concepción (Sortzez Garbia), Elorrio, Vizcaya, País Vasco
    • Basílica de Nuestra Señora de Begoña/Begoñako Andra Mari, Begoña, Vizcaya, País Vasco
    • Santa María de Portugalete/Nazareteko Andra Mari, Portugalete, Vizcaya, País Vasco
    • Santa María de Uribarri/Uribarriko Andra Mari, Durango, Vizcaya, País Vasco

Basílica de la Asunción de Nuestra Señora

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History

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The church was consecrated in Lekeitio in 1287, and was recorded as under construction in 1374. A century later, in 1487, it was all but ready for use. The neo-Gothic retrochoir by architect Casto de Zavala was added between 1881 and 1884, thanks to benefactor Pascual Abaroa

Building

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The church consist of three staggered naves in four sections and a polygonal chevet at the centre, the latter surrounded by a lower retro-choir. On the main wall there is a narrow gallery, in the form of windows with sills decorated with blind tracery. The church has one of the finest triforia in all Basque Gothic Architecture. The archivolted west door is set into a façade blooming with tiny original sculptured decorations. The tower consists of an ancient shaft that rises to roof level and a more modern belfry above.

Furniture

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The church is presided by a superb polychrome wood retable. The retable recounts the life of the Virgin in narrative and symbolic references.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Mario Iceta: "Me entrego a esta archidiócesis con todo el corazón y el alma"" (in Spanish). 5 December 2020. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
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43°15′25″N 2°55′26″W / 43.2569°N 2.9239°W / 43.2569; -2.9239

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