TREBIGNE (Tribunia, TREBINJE), DIOCESE OF — In southern Erzegovina (Croazia). Its territory covers 3861 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 women (School Sisters of S. Francesco) have two houses with 11 sisters.
In the 10th century there existed the autonomous principality of Travunia (Tribunia), which, according to the Chronicle of the Dioclean (12th century), formed part of red Croazia (that is, southern Croazia). As early as the 11th century, the Ecclesia Tribunensis arose there, with the cathedral of S. Pietro and its Chapter. The bishop generally resided in the Benedictine monastery of S. Pietro in Campo (Cicevò, 5 km. south of T.). The tribulations of the diocese began with the subjection of Travunia to the dissident Serbian state. Uros I drove Bishop Salvio from T. (1253). The fate of the Catholics in Serbia at that time is well described in the ancient manuscript Anonymi descriptio Europae orientalis a. 1308 (ed. O. Gorko, Cracovia 1916): « Schismatici perfidi... nimium persequuntur dictos catholicos et permaxime ecclesias Latinorum destruunt, dissipant et invadunt praela-tos et captivant et plura inexquisita mala faciunt ». The persecutions continued during the Turkish regime (1482-1878), when the Catholics were invariably regarded as followers of the Pope, the enemy of Islam and organizer of Christian resistance. The Serbian schismatic Church, like the Greek Church (the patriarchate of Pec was restored by the Turkish authorities in 1557), enjoyed, following the agreements with Turkey, a privileged position, which it exploited extensively: monasteries were founded in the regions of Croazia and, sometimes also with Turkish complicity, a great number of Catholics were forced to pass to schism (16th and 17th centuries). At that time there was a considerable shortage of priests, and the bishop of T. resided permanently within the territory of the Republic of Ragusa, on the island of Mrkanj. Later it was administered by the bishops of Ragusa, and from 1890 MOSTAR-DUVNO, DIOCESI DI (v.).