Bova
Welcome to the Archdiocese of Reggio Calabria-Bova
Hello everyone! Today I want to talk to you about the Archdiocese of Reggio Calabria-Bova, a metropolitan see of the Catholic Church in Italy. There are 278,315 baptized people living here out of a population of 282,760, and it is led by Archbishop Fortunato Morrone.
Patron Saints
There are three patron saints in this archdiocese. The first is Saint Paul the Apostle, through popular devotion. The second is Saint Stephen of Nicea, buried in the cathedral of Reggio Calabria. And finally, in Bova, there is Saint Leo, the patron saint of the city.
Territory
The archdiocese comprises 25 municipalities of the metropolitan city of Reggio Calabria. The territory covers 1,004 km² and is divided into 120 parishes, grouped into 11 vicariates. The archiepiscopal seat is the city of Reggio, where the Cathedral of Reggio Calabria is located, the largest religious building in Calabria. In Bova, there is instead the Co-Cathedral of Bova. In Reggio, there is also the minor basilica of the Hermitage Basilica.
Parishes and Vicariates
There are 11 vicariates in which to divide the parishes, and they are: Reggio center, Reggio south, Reggio north, Bagnara-Scilla, Bova, Gallico-Catona, Melito Porto Salvo, Pellaro, Sant'Agata, Valanidi, Villa San Giovanni.
Ecclesiastical Province
In the context of the ecclesiastical province of Reggio Calabria-Bova, there are three suffragan dioceses: Locri-Gerace, Oppido Mamertina-Palmi, Mileto-Nicotera-Tropea.
History
The Archdiocese of Reggio traces its roots back to the preaching of Paul of Tarsus in 61 AD. According to the Acts of the Apostles, on his journey to Rome, Paul sailed from Syracuse and landed in Reggio Calabria, where he preached the Gospel and converted many to the new faith. These events are celebrated in the liturgy on May 21 and July 5.
The archdiocese has been an integral part of the history of Calabria, expanding the Christian faith throughout the region, as affirmed by Pope John Paul II during his visit to Reggio Calabria.
Conclusion
This is the Archdiocese of Reggio Calabria-Bova. I hope I have given you an idea of how important it is for the Catholic Church and for the history of Calabria. If you are in the area, I recommend visiting the Cathedral of Reggio Calabria, one of the largest churches in the region. Thank you for reading!
