Harpasa

Harpasa is a town in the late Roman province of Caria. It became a bishopric, a suffragan of the archbishopric of Stauropolis.

History

Little is known of the history of this town, situated on the east bank of the Harpasus, a tributary of the Mæander. It is mentioned by Ptolemy (V, ii, xix), by Stephanus Byzantius, by Hierocles (Synecd., 688) and by Pliny the Elder (II, XCVIII). According to Pliny, there was in the neighbourhood a rocking-stone which could be set in motion by a finger-touch, whereas the force of the whole body could not move it.

The Ancient Armenian village that resides in present day Turkey hosts the ruined castle of Arpaz, in the district of Nazilli, preserves the old name.

Bishopric

Harpasa appears in the lists of the Notitiae Episcopatuum until the 12th or 13th century. Lequien (Oriens Christianus I, 907) mentions only four bishops: Phinias, who took part in the First Council of Ephesus in 431; Zoticus, represented at the Council of Chalcedon by the prespyter Philotheos, 451; Irenæus, an opponent of the Council of Chalcedon; Leo, in Constantinople at the Photian Council of 879.

Harpasa is included in the Catholic Church's list of titular sees.

Source

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