Medjana is a town and
commune (municipality) in
Bordj Bou Arréridj Province,
Algeria. It is the (approximate) location the ancient city and bishopric of Vardimissa, which remains a Latin Catholic
titular see.
According to the 1998 census it has a population of 16,112.[1]
History
Vardimissa (also spelled B- as n Greek) was important enough in the
Roman province of
Mauretania Caesariensis to become one of its many
suffragan dioceses, but like most, faded completely, probably at the 7th century advent of Islam.
Two of its bishops are historically documented :
Victor, participant at the
Council of Carthage in 411, among the Catholic bishops confronted with
Donatist heretical counterparts, without such for his see.[2]
The diocese was nominally restored in 1933 as Latin
titular bishopric of Vardimissa (Latin = Curiate Italian) / Vardimissen(sis) (Latin adjective).
It is vacant, having had the following incumbents, so far of the fitting Episcopal (lowest) rank :
José Freire Falcão (1967.04.24 – 1967.08.19) as
Coadjutor Bishop of
Limoeiro do Norte (
Brazil) (1967.04.24 – 1967.08.19); later Bishop of Limoeiro do Norte (1967.08.19 – 1971.11.25), Metropolitan Archbishop of
Teresina (Brazil) (1971.11.25 – 1984.02.15), Metropolitan Archbishop of
Brasília (Brazil) (1984.02.15 – retired 2004.01.28), Second Vice-President of Latin American Episcopal Council (1987 – 1991), created
Cardinal-Priest of
S. Luca a Via Prenestina (1988.06.28 – ...)
Bruno-Augustin Hippel,
Pallotines (S.A.C.) (1968.10.02 – death 1970.11.07) as emeritate; previously Titular Bishop of
Abora (1948.12.09 – 1951.01.11) as first and last
Apostolic Vicar of
Oudtshoorn (
South Africa) (1948.12.09 – 1951.01.11), (see) promoted first Bishop of Oudtshoorn (1951.01.11 – retired 1968.10.02)
Alano Maria Pena,
Dominican Order (O.P.) (1975.04.07 – 1978.05.26) as
Auxiliary Bishop of Belém do Pará (Brazil) (1975.04.07 – 1976.07.14), Coadjutor Bishop-Prelate of
Territorial Prelature of Marabá (Brazil) (1976.07.14 – 1976.11.10) and succeeding as last
Bishop-Prelate of Marabá (1976.11.10 – 1979.10.16); later (see) promoted first Bishop of Marabá (Brazil) (1979.10.16 – 1985.07.11), Bishop of
Itapeva (Brazil) (1985.07.11 – 1993.11.24), Bishop of
Nova Friburgo (Brazil) (1993.11.24 – 2003.09.24), Metropolitan Archbishop of
Niterói (Brazil) (2003.09.24 – retired 2011.11.30)
Jan Martyniak (1989.07.20 – 1991.01.16) as Auxiliary Bishop of
Przemyśl of the Ukrainians (Poland) (1989.07.20 – 1991.01.16); next succeeded as last suffragan Eparch (Bishop) of Przemyśl of the Ukrainians (1991.01.16 – 1996.05.24), (see) promoted as first Metropolitan Archbishop of restyled
Przemyśl–Warszawa of the Ukrainians (1996.05.24 – retired 2015.11.07)
Diómedes Espinal de León (2000.04.20 – 2006.05.24) as Auxiliary Bishop of
Archdiocese of Santiago de los Caballeros (Dominican Republic) (2000.04.20 – 2006.05.24); next Bishop of
Mao–Monte Cristi (Dominican Republic) (2006.05.24 – ...)
Mosè Marcia (2006.06.03 – 2011.04.21) as Auxiliary Bishop of
Archdiocese of Cagliari (Sardinia, Italy) (2006.06.03 – 2011.04.21); later Bishop of
Nuoro (Italy) (2011.04.21 – ...).