The Diocese of Nola () is a Latin diocese of the Catholic Church in Italy, suffragan of the Archdiocese of Naples."Diocese of Nola" Catholic-Hierarchy.org, David M. Cheney, Retrieved 29 February 2016."Diocese of Nola" GCatholic.org, Gabriel Chow, Retrieved 29 February 2016. Its seat is the Campanian city of Nola, now a suburb of Naples. Its cathedral is dedicated to the Assumption (). The dedication was originally to Saint Stephen the Protomartyr, but after the second reconstruction the dedication was changed to the Assumption.Cappelletti, p. 564. It is traditionally credited with the introduction of the use of bells into Christian worship.

History Antiquity The diocese was founded in the 3rd century by Felix of Nola.D'Avino, p. 489: "La sede vescovile fu eretta nel secolo terzo, e da Alessandro III dichiarata suffraganea di Napoli." He was martyred, as were St Januarius's companions Reparatus, Faustillus, and Acacius.D'Avino, p. 489: "Ne fu primo vescovo S. Felice seniore di Nola verso il 254, zelante promulgatore della fede. Governò la sua Chiesa cinque anni, e fu martirizzato con trenta dei suoi compagni sotto il prefetto Marciano, durante la persecuzione di Valeriano ai 15 novembre."

The early center of worship was at Cimitile, outside Nola proper and now named for its cemetery.Ebanista and Fusaro, "Il complesso basilicale", in: C. Ebanista; F. Fusaro (2005), Cimitile. Guida al complesso basilicale e alla città, pp. 19-105. The basilica of St Felix Martyr was built by Bishop Paulinus of Nola in the late 4th or early 5th century.Ebanista and Fusaro, p. 47: "La complessa stratificazione haavuto origine alla fine del III secolo, quando S. Felice fu sepolto in una semplice tomba in laterizi... Intorno alla metà del IV secolo, ad est dell'aula fu realizzata una basilica a tre navate con abside ad est (basilica orientale). Tra il 401 e il 403, Paolino di Nola, demolita l'abside dell'aula ad corpus, costruì una triplice apertura (triforium) che consentiva l'accesso all'atrio di un nuovo e più grande edificio di culto che egli chiamò basilica nova." Paulinus is traditionally credited with the introduction of bells into Christian ritual, whence two major medieval forms became known as s and s.. The information is stated to be derived from Polydore Vergil (c. 1470–1555), hardly "traditionally credited", as claimed.

Felix's remains, and then Paulinus's own, made the site a focus of Christian pilgrimage. (Paulinus's body was removed to the neighboring Diocese of Benevento in 839, traded to the emperor Otto III in 1000, and finally restored to Nola in 1909.)

Middle Ages Around 505, the mythical Bishop Serenus of Nola (Paulinus III)Lanzoni, p. 237. supposedly enslaved himself to free a widow's son. Several buildings were restored under Bishop Lupicinus of Nola around 786.

In 1370, Bishop Francesco Scaccani began construction of the present Gothic cathedral, which was completed by Gian Antonio Boccarelli in 1469.

The cathedral was administered and serviced by a Chapter, composed of four dignities (the Dean, the Archdeacon, the Treasurer, and the Cantor) and sixteen Canons. In addition, there was a Theologus and a Penitentiarius, in accordance with the decrees of the Council of Trent; they held prebends, but did not have a vote in the Chapter. There were also twelve beneficed clergy.D'Avino, p. 490, column 2. Ritzler-Sefrin V, p. 291, note 1. In 1918, the Chapter had three dignities (Dean, Precentor, and Treasurer) and 7 Canons; there were eight Canons de numero.Orbis catholicus 1918 (London, The Universe 1918), p. 518.

Renaissance The seminary was founded by Bishop Antonio Scarampi (1549–1569), introducing the reforms decreed by the Council of Trent. In 1585, Bishop Fabrizio Gallo (1585–1614) founded several charitable institutions. In 1588 Gallo held a diocesan synod.Ebanista, "et manet", p. 259-260.

Modern period Giambattista Lancellotti, who served as bishop from 1615 to 1656, also served as papal nuncio to Poland from 1622 to 1627. Bishop Traiano Caracciolo constructed a new seminary building in 1738.

Bishops

to 1200

Felix ()Lanzoni, pp. 228-236, places Felix in the 3rd quarter of the 3rd century, and distinguishes between a Felix episcopus and a Felix presbyter. ... Marinus () ... Priscus ( 523)Bishop Priscus died on 25 February 523. Lanzoni, p. 237. ... [Quodvultdeus]Lanzoni, p. 237: "Quodvultdeus fu un laico nolano, defunto probabilmente nel 455, non un vescovo." Paulinus (387? – 431)Paulinus died on 22 June 431. Lanzoni, p. 238, no. 4. Paulinus Junior (attested 442)The second Paulinus died on 10 September 442. Mommsen, CIL X.1, p. 153, no. 1340; Lanzoni, p. 238, no. 5; Santinello (2005), pp. 19-24. ...

Deodatus (attested 473)Bishop Deodatus died on 26 June 473. Lanzoni, p. 238, no. 6. Felix (attested 484)Bishop Felix died on 9 February 484. Lanzoni, p. 238, no. 7. John Talaia (481 – 482)Bishop John Talaias was formerly pope of Alexandria. Lanzoni, p. 238, no. 8. Theodosius (attested 490)Bishop Theodosius died on 7 December 490. Mommsen, CIL X.1, p. 153, no. 1345. Lanzoni, p. 238, no. 9. Serenus (attested 494 – 501)In 496, Pope Gelasius I wrote to the bishops of Salerno and Capua, ordering them to investigate the case of two clerics of Nola who had done injury to Bishop Serenus. Bishop Serenus attended the Roman synod of 499. Lanzoni, p. 238, no. 10; Kehr, p. 299, no. 6. [Paulinus III] ()Remondini III, pp. 65-70. His existence as a bishop is refuted by Lanzoni, p. 237, who shows that a mistaken interpretation of names in an inscription in the cathedral by Bishop Lupicinus (in the late 8th century) led to the belief that Paulinus had been a bishop. ... Priscus (attested 523)Bishop Priscus died on 25 February 523. Mommsen, CIL X.1, p. 153, no. 1348; Lanzoni, p. 239, no. 11. Musonius (attested 535)Bishop Musonius died on 19 September 535. Santaniello (2005), "I successori", pp. 40-41. Leo (attested 536)Bishop Leo was legate of the Holy See in Constantinople in 536. Lanzoni, p. 239, no. 12. ... Joannes (attested c. 555 – 560)Bishop Joannes was the recipient of two letters from Pope Pelagius I, who rebuked him for making improper requests of the pope. Kehr, p. 299, nos. 9-10. AurelianusHis epitaph states that he governed the Church of Nola for 38 years. Mommsen, CIL X.1, p. 155, no. 1366; Lanzoni, p. 238, no. 13. Senatus ... Gaudentius (attested 594, 595)In November 594, after the death of Bishop Festus of Capua in Rome, Pope Gregory I appointed Gaudentius as Apostolic Visitor to the Church of Capua. Kehr, Italia pontificia VIII, p. 300, nos. 11-12; Lanzoni, p. 239, no. 15. ... Aurelius (attested 680)Bishop Aurelius was present at the Roman synod of Pope Agatho in 680, whose decrees were sent in a synodal letter by Pope Agatho to the Council of Constantinople, which were subscribed by Bishop Aurelius. He states that he was part of the provincia Campaniae. J. D. Mansi (ed.), Sacrorum Conciliorum nova et amplissima collectio, editio novissima, Tomus XI (Florence: A. Zatta 1765), p. 299. ... Lupicinus (Lupinus) ()Cappelletti, pp. 585-586. ... LandoCappelletti, p. 586. Jacobus (Jacopo)Ughelli, p. 254, assigns Jacobus a floruit date of 843, without stating grounds. Leo Tertius (attested 896, 911)Cappelletti, p. 586. JoannesCappelletti, p. 586. Stephanus (attested 965, 973)Cappelletti, pp. 586-587. Sixtus (attested 986)Sixtus (Sisto): Ughelli, p. 254. Cappelletti, p. 587. Sasso (attested 1093)Sasso: Ughelli, p. 254. Cappelletti, pp. 587-588. Guilelmus (attested 1105, 1123)Guilelmus: Ughelli, pp. 254-255; Cappelletti, pp. 588-590. ... Paganus (attested 1136)Cappelletti, p. 590. ... Bartholomaeus (attested 1143)Bartholmaeus: Ughelli, pp. 255-257. ... Robertus (1158 – 1173)In May 1158, Robertus was already Bishop-elect. Leone Mattei Cerasoli, "Di alcuni vescovi poco noti, (cont.)", in: Archivio storico per le province napoletane 44 (1919), p. 321. Rufinus (1173 – 1175)Cappelletti, p. 593. Bernardus (1175 – )In a document of August 1181, Bernardus states that he was in the sixth year of his episcopate, signifying that his reign began in 1175. Bernardus attended the Third Lateran Council of Pope Alexander III in 1179. He is mentioned as Bishop of Nola in a document of Pope Clement III dated 7 June 1190. Ughelli, p. 257; Cappelletti, pp. 593-594; Kehr, p. 301, no. 1; Cerasoli, p. 321. ...

1200 to 1600

Marinus (attested 1202)Norbert Kamp (1973), Kirche und Monarchie im staufischen Königreich Sizilien. Prosopographische Grundlegung. Bistümer und Bischöfe des Königreichs 1194–1266. 1. Abruzzen und Kampanien, (Munich: Wilhelm Fink 1973), p. 364. ... Petrus ( – 1225)Gams, p. 907. Eubel, Hierarchia catholica I, p. 370. Marco Perrone (1225 – ) Petrus (December 1239 – ) Giovanni Montefuscolo (1259 – 1288) Francesco Fontana (1289 – 1296) AdministratorFrancesco had been named Archbishop of Messina, but because of the war between the Angevins and the Aragonese, he was not able to enter his diocese. Pope Nicholas IV therefore appointed him Apostolic Administrator of Nola on 29 January 1289. He resigned, and Pietro Gerra was appointed, on 23 August 1296. Ernest Langlois, Les Registres de Nicolas IV Tome premier (Paris, Fontemoing 1905), p. 90, no. 471; Eubel I, p. 370. Pietro Gerra (23 August 1296 – 6 January 1298) Apostolic AdministratorGerra: Eubel I, p. 370. Landone (22 April 1298 – 1304) Antonio Carafa ( – ?) Giacomo (14 May 1311 – 1328) Pietro Sparano (1328 – 1331)Bishop Pietro, formerly a Canon of Capua, had been Bishop of Venafro from 9 March 1326. He was transferred to Nola by Pope John XXII on 6 September 1328, while Bishop Giacomo was still alive. Pietro died on 6 September 1331. Eubel I, p. 370; G. Mollat, Jean XXII - Lettres communes, Tome VIII (Paris, Boccard 1924) p. 2, no. 42725. Nicolò de Acerno (22 October 1331 – 1340) Lygus di Orvieto (1340 – 1349)Lygus of Orvieto was a Canon of the cathedral of Reims and a papal chaplain. He was appointed Bishop of Nola by Pope Benedict XII on 6 November 1340. On 24 April 1341, Lygus was working at the papal Court and received a mandate from Benedict XII to deal with problems in Brabant. It appears that his bishopric was a benefice rather than a real episcopal assignment. Alphonse Fierens, Lettres de Benoît XII (1334–1342) (Paris, Champion 1910), p. 360, no. 678; Remondini III, p. 150; Eubel I, p. 370. Nicola d'Offerio (1349)A noble of Ravello and a Canon of Naples, Nicholas died in Avignon before he could be consecrated a bishop. Cappelletti, p. 602; D'Avino, p. 489, column 2. Francesco Rufolo (1349 – 1370)Franciscus Rufulus, according to his tombstone, was a native of Naples and a Doctor in utroque iure. He was a Canon of Naples and an Auditor of the Rota in the Roman Curia. He was appointed bishop on 25 May 1349, by Pope Clement VI. He died on 5 July 1370. Cappelletti, p. 602; Eubel I, p. 370 with note 5. Francesco Scaccani (1370 – 1400)A native of Nola and a Canon of the cathedral Chapter, Scaccani (Scaczano, according to Eubel) was a Doctor in utroque iure, and a Referendary of Pope Boniface IX. He was appointed on 21 June 1370, by Pope Urban V. He served as a Referendary of Pope Boniface IX and was his Vicar in spiritualibus in Rome and the immediate neighborhood. He died on 15 July 1400. Remondini III, pp. 156-168; Cappelletti, pp. 604-605; Eubel I, p. 370 with note 6. Gianantonio Tarentino (Torrenti) (1400 – 1402) ?Bishop Gianantonio does not appear in Ughelli or Eubel. Remondini, pp. 168-169; Cappelletti, p. 603. Flaminio Minutolo (26 July 1402 – 1442)In 1438, Minutolo was granted at his request a Coadjutor bishop, Leone dei Simeoni, Archdeacon of Nola, who succeeded him on his death in 1442. Remondini III, pp. 170-180; Cappelletti, p. 604; Eubel I, p. 370, with note 7.