Garzon (suffragan)

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Garzon is a Suffragan of the Archdiocese of Popayán in the Republic of Colombia .

The diocese comprises the Provinces of Neiva and Sur, and lies east of Popayán. It is about 140 miles in length, and its breadth varies from 40 to 100 miles. It extends from 1.5&$176; to 4&$176; north latitude, and lies between the 75&$176; and 77&$176; west longitude. The episcopal see (unlike most, not eponymous) is at Neiva, a town of 11,000 inhabitants, situated 150 miles s.w. of Bogotá at a height of 1500 feet above sea-level, on the Magdalena River, which is navigable to this point.

The diocese originally formed part of the bishopric of Tolima, which lay in the midst of the Cordilleras. As the territory was so extensive, the population very numerous and the difficulties of visitation too great, the bishop petitioned the Holy See to divide the diocese. This was done by a decree of Leo XIII, June 20, 1900. The northern half was erected into a new bishopric of Ibagué, suffragan of Bogotá -- and the southern half formed the new diocese of Garzón. Mgr. Estéban Rojas, born at Hato in the Diocese of Popayán, January 15, 1859, who had been made bishop of Tolima, March 18, 1895, was transferred to Neiva as first Bishop of Garzon.

Cathedral of Popayán

The cathedral is dedicated to the Immaculate Conception of Our Lady. The population, of which a large part is of mixed origin, is almost entirely Catholic.