title: Aphnaeum
text: # Aphnaeum
  
  Aphnaeum (Greek: Αφναιον, Aphnaion) was an ancient city and former bishopric in Egypt. It is currently a Latin Catholic titular see. Its location is believed to be near the ruins of modern Tell-Defenneh.
  
  ## History
  
  Aphnaeum was important enough in the Egyptian Roman province of Augustamnica Secunda to become a suffragan bishopric of the Metropolitan of provincial capital Pelusium, but it faded with the town.
  
  ### Titular see
  
  It was nominally restored in 1933.
  
  It is vacant, having had only two incumbents, both of the lowest (episcopal) rank :
  
  * Joseph Alexander Fernandes (1949.01.24 – 1951.04.12) as Auxiliary Bishop of Calcutta (India) (1949.01.24 – 1951.04.12), later Metropolitan Archbishop of Delhi and Simla (India) (1951.04.12 – 1959.06.04), restyled Metropolitan Archbishop of Delhi (1959.06.04 – 1967.09.16), also Apostolic Administrator of Simla and Chandigarh (India) (1966 – 1967.04.13)
  * Gregorio Espiga e Infante, Augustinian Recollects (O.A.R.) (1955.07.03 – 1997.04.15) as Apostolic Vicar of Palawan (Philippines) (1955.07.03 – 1987.12.18)
  
  ## Source and External links
  
  * GigaCatholic, with titular incumbent biography links
  * Catholicism
  * Egypt
  