TRIVANDRUM of the LATINS, DIOCESE of. — Situated in south-western India, it borders on the Arabian Sea, the dioceses of Quilon, Madura and Kottar.
It was erected on 10 July 1937 by territorial division of the diocese of Quilon and constituted a suffragan of the metropolitan see of Verapoly. Civilly it formed part (with the exception of the small British enclave of Anjengo) of the Kingdom of Travancore; since India’s independence it has been entirely included in the province of Cochin-Travancore. Over an area of 2,100 sq. km. it has 1,200,000 inhabitants, of whom 141,901 are Catholics, 2,000 are dissenters, 31,000 Protestants, 120,000 Moslems, and 835,000 Hindus. The diocese is divided into 3 rural deaneries, comprising 184 churches, of which 157 are parishes, served by 35 secular priests and 27 regulars; 1 male and 7 female religious congregations; 66 educational institutions, 5 of assistance. The diocese also has a retreat house for lay people, 2 university hostels, and 1 printing press. There are numerous confraternities, Catholic Action associations, pious works, and Third Orders. The work of conversion proceeds slowly and with difficulty.
By decree of 19 June 1952 the small coastal territory bordering on this diocese and that of Kottar, previously belonging to the diocese of Cochin, was placed under temporary administration of the ordinary of Trivandrum.
T. OF THE SIRO-MALANKARA. — Metropolitan see of the Siro-Malankara, erected by the apostolic constitution Christo pastorum principi of 11 June 1932. For its history: V. MALANKARA.
Its territory comprises the districts of T., Kottarakara, Adoor, Pathanamthitta, Mavelikara, Kayamkulam and Chengannoor. It has 193 churches, 73 priests, 54,588 faithful; total population: 3,000,000.