Roman Catholic Diocese of Bilbao explained

Jurisdiction:Diocese
Bilbao
Latin:Dioecesis Flaviobrigensis
Local:Diócesis de Bilbao (es)
Bilboko elizbarrutia (eu)
Country: Spain
Metropolitan:Burgos
Province:Burgos
Rite:Latin Rite
Cathedral:Cathedral of St James in Bilbao
Area Km2:2,193
Population:1,172,900
Population As Of:2012
Catholics:1,146,400
Catholics Percent:97.7
Metro Archbishop:Mario Iceta Gavicagogeascoa
Map:Diocesisdebilbao.PNG
Website:Website of the Diocese

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.

History

Territory

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

Special churches

Basílica de la Asunción de Nuestra Señora

History

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

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

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

External links

43.2569°N -2.9239°W

Notes and References

  1. News: 23 March 2021 . es . Mario Iceta: "Me entrego a esta archidiócesis con todo el corazón y el alma" . 5 December 2020.