TREBIGNE (Tribunia, TREBINJE), DIOCESE OF
In southern Herzegovina (Croatia), the diocese covers an area of 3,861 sq km with 25,126 faithful (1936). In 1890 it was entrusted to the administration of the Bishop of Mostar. It comprises two deaneries and 10 parishes with 12 churches, 45 chapels, and 13 secular priests. The religious sisters (School Sisters of St Francis) have two houses with 11 sisters.
In the 10th century there existed the autonomous principality of Traunia (Tribunia), which according to the chronicle of the Presbyter of Dioclea (12th century) formed part of Red Croatia (i.e., southern Croatia). Already in the 11th century the Ecclesia Tribunensis arose, with the cathedral of St Peter and its chapter. The bishop generally resided in the Benedictine monastery of St Peter in Campo (Cicervo, 5 km south of T.). The tribulations of the diocese begin with the subjection of Traunia to the dissident Serbian state. Uroš I expelled from T. Bishop Salvio in 1253. The plight of Catholics in Serbia at that time is vividly described in the ancient *Anonymi descriptio Europae orientalis* (a. 1308, ed. O. Gorko, Cracow 1916): «Perfidious schismatics... most cruelly persecute the said Catholics and above all destroy, lay waste and invade the Latin churches, seize the prelates and captives, and inflict many unspeakable evils.»
Persecutions continued under Turkish rule (1482–1878), when Catholics were viewed with disfavour as followers of the Pope, the enemy of Islam and organiser of Christian resistance. The Serbian schismatic Church, like the Greek Church (the patriarchate of Peć was restored by Turkish authority in 1557), enjoyed a privileged position as a result of agreements with the Turks, which was widely exploited: monasteries were founded in Croatian regions and, sometimes with Turkish complicity, a large number of Catholics were forced to pass over to schism (16th–17th centuries). At that time there was a notable shortage of priests, and the Bishop of T. resided permanently on the territory of the Republic of Ragusa, on the island of Mrkanj. Later the diocese was administered by the Bishops of Ragusa, and from 1890 MOSTAR-DUVNO, DIOCESI DI (v.).