Gabula (Syria)
Gabula was an ancient city and former bishopric in Roman Syria, and remains a Latin Catholic titular see.
Its modern location is presumed at the marsh of al-Jabbul in present Syria.
History
Gabula was important enough in the Roman province of Syria Prima to be a Metropolitan Archdiocese in the sway of the Patriarchate of Antioch, but was to fade, presumably at the advent of Islam.It has had two historically documented incumbents :
- Bassianus, participant at the First Council of Nicaea in 325
- Flavianus, signator of the letter of the episcopate of Syria Secunda to Byzantine emperor Leo I the Thracian in 458, after the lynch-mobbing by Copts of Patriarch Proterius of Alexandria.
Titular see
The diocese was nominally restored in 1929 as a Latin Catholic titular archbishopric.It is vacant since decades, having had the following incumbents, all of the intermediary rank :
- Joseph Attipetty
- Patrick Finbar Ryan, Dominican Order
- Louis Batanian ; previously Archeparch of Mardin of the Armenians ; later Archeparch of Aleppo of the Armenians, Titular Archbishop of Colonia in Armenia of the Armenians & Auxiliary Bishop of the patriarchate Cilicia of the Armenians, Patriarch of Cilicia of the Armenians and President of Synod of the Armenian Catholic Church
- Pompeo Ghezzi
- Aurelio Macedonio Guerriero
- Francis Carroll, Society of African Missionaries