Roman Catholic Diocese of Sapë
Located in Albany Diocese Sapa (Latin: Dioecesis Sappensis, Albanian: Dioqeza e Sapes ) was founded in 1052 and is a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Shkodër -Pult. It extends along the lower reaches of the Drin south of the city of Shkodra. Bishop's seat is the place Vau Deja in the district of Shkodra.
The diocese is named after Sapa ( Italian Sappa ), a former town in the municipality of Vau Deja. Since early 2007, Lucjan Avgustini has held the office of bishop.
In spring 2002, they moved some Albanian Carmelites from Croatia to Nënshat, a village south of Vau Deja and earlier temporarily bishop of the diocese, and there founded a contemplative monastery.
History
From the Middle Ages to the 19th century belonged to the ecclesiastical province Sapa Antivari.
In the 17th century, the small northern Albanian dioceses could be filled because of the progressive Islamisation by the Ottomans only with difficulty with bishops and not infrequently remained vacant. Therefore, the diocese Sarda ( Sardoniki ) was beaten in the 17th century to Sapa. At that time the united diocese had two important bishops, Pjetër Budi (1621-1622) and Frang Bardhi ( 1637-1643 ). They were among the first, the religious works written in the Albanian language.
The 1940 came into office bishop of Sapa, Gjergj Volaj was imprisoned after the Second World War by members of the Sigurimi, tortured and murdered in February 1948. Under the tyranny of the communists no new bishop could be appointed. Pope John Paul II made the diocese in the 1990s again.