Calama (titular see)
Encyclopedia
Calama is a Catholic titular see
of Africa, corresponding to modern Guelma
, Algeria
.
, besieged by Postumius
110 BC
. It became a Roman municipium
as early as Hadrian
, and a colony a little later.
In the time of Diocletian
it was included in Proconsular Africa, but its bishops were subject to Numidia. The city was captured by the Vandals
on their arrival in Africa (429). Count Bonifacius was defeated near the city in 431.
A great many inscriptions found at Guelma have proved that it is the modern substitute for Calama. It has 7300 inhabitants (1500 French), and is an important cattle market. Among its ruins are a Byzantine citadel and walls built by the Patricius Solomon during the Byzantine reoccupation.
Four bishops are known:
Possidius was a disciple of St. Augustine in the monastic life; at Calama he suffered persecution from heathens and Donatists, and was obliged to leave his city for some time. The contemporary Donatist bishop was Crispinus; among the heathens we know a certain Nectarius, a correspondent of St. Augustine. Possidius disarmed his enemies by his charity. After the sack of Calama by the Vandals, he retired to Hippo Regius
and attended St. Augustine on his death-bed. He also wrote the life and a catalogue of the works of his master.
Titular see
A titular see in various churches is an episcopal see of a former diocese that no longer functions, sometimes called a "dead diocese". The ordinary or hierarch of such a see may be styled a "titular bishop", "titular metropolitan", or "titular archbishop"....
of Africa, corresponding to modern Guelma
Guelma
Guelma is the capital of Guelma Province and Guelma District, located in northeastern Algeria, about 65 kilometers from the Mediterranean coast...
, Algeria
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
.
History
Calama appears to be the Roman name of Suthul, a city in NumidiaNumidia
Numidia was an ancient Berber kingdom in part of present-day Eastern Algeria and Western Tunisia in North Africa. It is known today as the Chawi-land, the land of the Chawi people , the direct descendants of the historical Numidians or the Massyles The kingdom began as a sovereign state and later...
, besieged by Postumius
Postumius
Postumius can mean:*Three consuls called Lucius Postumius Albinus:**Lucius Postumius Albinus , ambushed by the Celtic Boii in 216 BC**Lucius Postumius Albinus **Lucius Postumius Albinus...
110 BC
110 BC
Year 110 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Rufus and Albinus...
. It became a Roman municipium
Municipium
Municipium , the prototype of English municipality, was the Latin term for a town or city. Etymologically the municipium was a social contract between municipes, the "duty holders," or citizens of the town. The duties, or munera, were a communal obligation assumed by the municipes in exchange for...
as early as Hadrian
Hadrian
Hadrian , was Roman Emperor from 117 to 138. He is best known for building Hadrian's Wall, which marked the northern limit of Roman Britain. In Rome, he re-built the Pantheon and constructed the Temple of Venus and Roma. In addition to being emperor, Hadrian was a humanist and was philhellene in...
, and a colony a little later.
In the time of Diocletian
Diocletian
Diocletian |latinized]] upon his accession to Diocletian . c. 22 December 244 – 3 December 311), was a Roman Emperor from 284 to 305....
it was included in Proconsular Africa, but its bishops were subject to Numidia. The city was captured by the Vandals
Vandals
The Vandals were an East Germanic tribe that entered the late Roman Empire during the 5th century. The Vandals under king Genseric entered Africa in 429 and by 439 established a kingdom which included the Roman Africa province, besides the islands of Sicily, Corsica, Sardinia and the Balearics....
on their arrival in Africa (429). Count Bonifacius was defeated near the city in 431.
A great many inscriptions found at Guelma have proved that it is the modern substitute for Calama. It has 7300 inhabitants (1500 French), and is an important cattle market. Among its ruins are a Byzantine citadel and walls built by the Patricius Solomon during the Byzantine reoccupation.
Four bishops are known:
- DonatusDonatus-People:* Aelius Donatus, a Roman grammarian and teacher of rhetoric* Donatus , a Khan of the Eastern Black Sea Huns & beyond c. 412 AD; preceded by Uldin and succeeded by Charaton-Churchmen:...
, 305 - Megalius, who consecrated St. AugustineSt. Augustine-People:* Augustine of Hippo or Augustine of Hippo , father of the Latin church* Augustine of Canterbury , first Archbishop of Canterbury* Augustine Webster, an English Catholic martyr.-Places:*St. Augustine, Florida, United States...
in 395 and died in 397 - St. Possidius, elected in 397
- QuodvultdeusQuodvultdeusSaint Quodvultdeus was a fifth century church father and bishop of Carthage who was exiled to Naples. He was known to have been living in Carthage around 407 and became a deacon in 421 AD. He corresponded with Saint Augustine of Hippo, who served as Quodvultdeus' spiritual teacher...
in 484.
Possidius was a disciple of St. Augustine in the monastic life; at Calama he suffered persecution from heathens and Donatists, and was obliged to leave his city for some time. The contemporary Donatist bishop was Crispinus; among the heathens we know a certain Nectarius, a correspondent of St. Augustine. Possidius disarmed his enemies by his charity. After the sack of Calama by the Vandals, he retired to Hippo Regius
Hippo Regius
Hippo Regius is the ancient name of the modern city of Annaba, in Algeria. Under this name, it was a major city in Roman Africa, hosting several early Christian councils, and was the home of the philosopher and theologian Augustine of Hippo...
and attended St. Augustine on his death-bed. He also wrote the life and a catalogue of the works of his master.