[1][2] The Gospel was first preached to the people of Assisi about the middle of the third century by St. Cyspolitus, Bishop of Bettona (ancient Vettona), who suffered martyrdom under the Emperor Maximian.

Of the bishops who occupied the See of Assisi during the fifth and sixth centuries, Aventius interceded (545) with Totila in behalf of the Assisians, and saved the city from the Ostrogothic army on its way to Rome.

Thus, in 659, Aquilinus was summoned by Pope Martin I to be present at the Lateran Council, convened for the purpose of formulating decrees against the Monothelites.

In the seventh and eighth centuries Assisi fell under the power of the Lombard dukes, and in 773 was razed to the ground by Charlemagne for its determined resistance to him.

[3] Erected: 3rd Century Latin Name: Assisiensis Immediately Subject to the Holy See •United: 30 September 1986 with the Diocese of Nocera Umbra-Gualdo Tadino Latin Name: Assisiensis-Nucerinus-Tadinensis Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Perugia-Città della Pieve Domenico Sorrentino (19 Nov 2005 – ) This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed.