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The '''Cathedral Church of the Virgin Mary of the Immaculate Conception''' also known as '''Myeongdong Cathedral''', is a prominent [[Latin-rite]] [[Roman Catholic church]] located in the [[Myeongdong]] neighborhood of [[Jung-gu, Seoul]] [[Korea]]. The building is a community landmark and a notable symbol of [[Catholicism in Korea]]. The church is dedicated in honor of [[Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception]], the principal patroness of [[Korea]] and the [[Korean people]]. |
The '''Cathedral Church of the Virgin Mary of the Immaculate Conception''' also known as '''Myeongdong Cathedral''', is a prominent [[Latin-rite]] [[Roman Catholic church]] located in the [[Myeongdong]] neighborhood of [[Jung-gu, Seoul]] [[Korea]]. The building is a community landmark and a notable symbol of [[Catholicism in Korea]]. The church is dedicated in honor of [[Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception]], the principal patroness of [[Korea]] and the [[Korean people]]. |
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The cathedral itself is one of the earliest examples of [[Gothic Revival architecture]] in Korea, although lacking exterior ornamentation but has many stain-glass windows filled with religious art. It is also the seat of the [[Archbishop of Seoul]], [[ |
The cathedral itself is one of the earliest examples of [[Gothic Revival architecture]] in Korea, although lacking exterior ornamentation but has many stain-glass windows filled with religious art. It is also the seat of the [[Archbishop of Seoul]], [[Andrew Yeom Soo-jung]], the highest Catholic [[prelate]] in the country. |
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==Structural details== |
==Structural details== |
Revision as of 19:42, 9 July 2012
Cathedral Church of the Virgin Mary of the Immaculate Conception Myeongdong Cathedral | |
Korean name | |
---|---|
Hangul | 명동 대성당 |
Hanja | 明洞大聖堂 |
Revised Romanization | Myeongdong Daeseongdang |
McCune–Reischauer | Myŏngdong Daesŏngdang |
The Cathedral Church of the Virgin Mary of the Immaculate Conception also known as Myeongdong Cathedral, is a prominent Latin-rite Roman Catholic church located in the Myeongdong neighborhood of Jung-gu, Seoul Korea. The building is a community landmark and a notable symbol of Catholicism in Korea. The church is dedicated in honor of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, the principal patroness of Korea and the Korean people.
The cathedral itself is one of the earliest examples of Gothic Revival architecture in Korea, although lacking exterior ornamentation but has many stain-glass windows filled with religious art. It is also the seat of the Archbishop of Seoul, Andrew Yeom Soo-jung, the highest Catholic prelate in the country.
Structural details
The church was constructed with twenty types of locally fired red and gray bricks. The main building rises to 23m high while the steeple, which contains a clock, rises to 45m. It was designated National Historic Site #258 on November 22, 1977.[1]
History
Christianity was heavily persecuted in Joseon era Korea. Still, interest in it grew as an academic novelty, notably among members of the Silhak (실학; "practical learning") school, attracted to what they saw as its egalitarian values.[2] Catholicism gained ground as a belief in the 19th century through the work of French missionaries, the persecutions of whom led to an 1866 French expeditions.
After Joseon dynasty concluded of a commercial treaty with United States in 1882, Bishop Jean M. Blanc, Bishop of Korea, sought land to build a mission. Under the name Kim Gamilo, he acquired a vacant lot on Jonghyeon (Chong-Hyen), meaning "Bell Hill"; due to its proximity to a temple, Koreans had declined to build there.[3] An education center was constructed, and plans to build a church placed under the supervision of French priest Eugene Coste at the conclusion of a commercial treaty between Korea and France in 1887.[1]
Emperor Gojong held the ceremony of laying the first stone on August 5, 1892, and construction funds donated by Paris Mission Society. Construction cost around US$60,000.[3] However, because of the First Sino-Japanese War, and the subsequent death of Fr. Coste, the inauguration of the cathedral was postponed until May 29, 1898, when it was finally dedicated and consecrated to the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin.[4] At its construction, it was the largest building in Seoul.[3]
In 1900, the relics of the Korean Martyrs who died in the 1866 persecution were moved to its crypt from the seminary in Yongsan-gu.
The Roman Catholic clergy were among the leading critics of South Korea's military rule in the 1970s and 1980s, and Myeongdong Cathedral became a center of Minjung political and labor protest as well as a sanctuary for the protesters;[5] indeed, it was nicknamed the "Mecca" of pro-democracy activists.[6] Catholic and future President Kim Dae-jung held a rally at the cathedral in 1976 to demand the resignation of President Park Chung Hee, and some 600 student-led protesters staged a hunger strike inside in 1987 after the torture and death of university student Park Jong-chol.[7]
The cathedral is a popular spot for protesters, due to a previous non-interference of the government to arrest protesters inside church property. In 2000, the cathedral attempted to officially ban protesters who did not have prior approval after a protest of telecommunications labor unions beat female churchgoers and vandalized church property.[7]
Patronage of the church
Amidst Christian suspicion and persecution at the time, Pope Gregory XVI invested ecclestiastical interest in strengthening the first bishopric in Korea. In 1831, he established the first and only Apostolic Vicariate in Seoul, Korea which survived no foreign Catholic priests since the anti-Catholic persecutions that went on earlier that year[8][9]. According to Cardinal Nicolas Cheong Jin-suk, in 1841, Pope Gregory XVI solemnly dedicated the Korean Catholic Church to the Blessed Virgin Mary under the title Immaculate Virgin[10]. In addition, Cheong Jin-suk also mentioned that Pope Gregory XVI officially declared the Immaculate Conception as the Patroness of Korea and the Korean people in 1864[11] The church became a planned structural building from this patronage invoked by the pontiff thirty years later in 1894[12][13].
On May 6, 1984, Blessed Pope John Paul II reiterated this patronage by entrusting the Republic of Korea to the Blessed Virgin Mary, given in this church[14]. In the Apostolic Letter, Pope John Paul II noted that Bishop Imbert (Embert) Bum first consecrated Korea to the Immaculate Conception in 1837, followed by Bishop Jean Joseph Ferréol in 1846 along with Saint Joseph as its co-patron[15][16][17]. According to the papal brief, a similar re-dedication of patronage to the Immaculate Conception was invoked on by the French Bishop Gustave Charles Mutel (1854-1933) on May 29, 1898. A over-lifesize statue of the Immaculate Conception was erected outside of the church.
Previous names
The church was originally called the Jonghyeon Cathedral (종현성당, 鐘峴聖堂), and was later replaced by The Catholic Church (천주교회 天主敎會) during the Korean colonial period. After the liberation years of Korea from colonial rule, the name was later changed to the Cathedral Church of the Virgin Mary of the Immaculate Conception and was colloquially referred to by its congregants as the Myeongdong Cathedral.
References
- ^ a b Cultural Heritage Administration (Republic of Korea). "Heritage Information: Myeongdongseongdang". Retrieved 2008-05-16.
- ^ Seoul International Publishing House (1983). Focus on Korea, Korean History. Seoul. pp. 7–8.
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - ^ a b c The Korean repository, vol. 5, January 1898, p. 239
{{citation}}
: Cite uses deprecated parameter|authors=
(help) - ^ "History of Myeong Dong Cathedral". www.mdsd.or.kr. Retrieved 2008-05-16.
- ^ Conde, Carlos H. (April 3, 2005). "Asians Pay Tribute to the Pope". International Herald Tribune.
- ^ The Associated Press (March 7, 2008). "SKorean priests lead campaign against 'economic dictator' Samsung".
- ^ a b Lee, Dong-min (March 22, 2002). "Myeongdong Cathedral Fighting Image of Protest Haven". Korea Herald.
- ^ http://www.questia.com/googleScholar.qst?docId=5002355967
- ^ True Doctrine in the Hermit Kingdom: A Brief Survey of the Catholic Church in Korea - Brother Zechariah Foreman, Order of Preachers, published May 4, 2004
- ^ http://www.asianews.it/news-en/Both-North-and-South-consecrated-to-the-Immaculate-Virgin,-says-Bishop-of-Seoul-2081.html
- ^ http://www.catholic.org/saints/patron.php?letter=K
- ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ML92zkibbXs - Phoenix TV documentary of the Myeongdong Cathedral
- ^ http://www.marys-touch.com/newspapers/2009.pdf
- ^ http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/speeches/1984/may/documents/hf_jp-ii_spe_19840506_atto-affidamento-corea_en.html
- ^ http://www.namyangmaria.org/en/korean_catholic.html
- ^ http://www.catholic.org/saints/patron.php?letter=K
- ^ http://www.marys-touch.com/newspapers/2009.pdf
External links
- Template:Language icon Myeongdong Cathedral Official Website (Korean)
- Template:Language icon Myeongdong Cathedral English information, providing history, architectural and decorative highlights, service schedule, and directions