,developed from the apostolic communities of the 2nd century very numerous to important dioceses in today's Jordan and Syria.
The literature points to the immense density of dioceses in Hauran and the area of the fading decapolis between the beginning of the 3rd and 5th centuries.
Partly and in intervals of 10km, bishops were consecrated in "Komen", thus villages. From all Decapolis cities which can be clearly located (the only exception is Dion), dioceses derived. These were the archdiocese of Bosra or Scythopolis today Bet Shean, subordinated. Many other episcopal cities emerged from Hellenistic local situations and have partially preserved to this day. In general, the Greek-speaking regions of the Levante were the pioneers here.
For comparison, it should be mentioned here that the area of the Decapolis shown below also corresponds approximately to the area of the German state of Hesse. On this territory and during the early years of the church, demonstrably more than 37 dioceses existed (D. Freshfield 1869 speaks of alone 33 dioceses in the only a quarter of Hauran, without naming them).
For comparison, today are 27 bishoprics in the entire Federal Republic of Germany.
The early Christian tradition, which entered this region early on and before solid ecclesiastical hierarchies, was thus adopted by the Arab tribes, which lived together with the Hellenistic population of the cities, and led, inter alia, to the emperor of the 3rd century - Philip Arabs-. It is said that he was already Christian.
At this point, I attach a certainly not complete but very useful list which gives you a good overview:
(The allocation is usually based on the acknowledged findings, the assignment in TAVO, italic assignments are secured by archaeological findings and are here put as a thesis by the author for a further discussion.)
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Archdiocese of Scythopolis (Bet Shean / Isr.) of the Prov. Palestine 2 included:
Gadara (Umm Qais / Jor.)
Pella (Tabaqat Fahil / Jor.)
Capitolias (Beit Ras / Jor.)
Helenopolis ( Beit Yerah-Khirbet Kerak / Isr. )
Hippos (Kalaat al Husn-Susita / Golan-Isr.)
Abila (Tell Abil Wadi Queilbeh / Jor.)
Ecsalus (Mt. Tabor) (Iksal / Isr.)
Tiberias (Tiberias / Isr.)
Bethsaida (Bethsaida-Juliet / Isr.)
Capharnaum (Kafernaum-Tabgha / Isr.) -
the archdiocese of Bostra (Bosra / Syr.) the Prov. Arabia included:
Gerasa (Jerash / Jor.)
Dionysias (As Suweida / Syr.)
Canatha (Qanawat / Syr.)
Saccaea (Shakka / Syr.)
Neilon ( Deir Neilah / Syr. )
Phaena (el Musmije / Syr.)
Philippopolis (Shaba / Syr.)
Tricomia (Salkhad / Syr.)
Philadelphia (Amman / Jor.)
Neapolis (Sheikh Saad / Syr.)
Neve (Neve / Syr.)
Eutyme ( Eitha or Tayma / Syr. )
Lorea ( Umm es Zurab / Jor. )
Adraa (Deraa / Syr.)
Zorava (Ezra / Syr.)
Esbos (Hesbon / Jor.)
Parembole i.A. ( Rihab / Jor. )
Constantia (Qalaat Buraq / Syr.)
Chrysopolis ( Tulul edh Dahab on the Zerka, also Chrysohoras / Jor. )
Aere-Errensis (Es Sanamein / Syr.)
Baccata (Safut at Es Salt / Jor.)
Bosana (Bosan-Saana / Syr.)
Madaba (Madaba / Jor.) - the archdiocese of Tyros (Tyros / Lib.) Prov. Phoenice included among others:
Paneas Paneade (Banyas / Golan Isr.)
About the development and size of the Decapolis in the same area, please compare also "The Decapolis"