The Korea Times close
National
  • Politics
  • Diplomacy
  • Defense
  • Labor & Environment
  • Law & Crime
  • Health & Welfare
  • Embassy
  • Seoul & Provinces
  • Education
  • Foreign Communities
  • Obituaries
  • Multicultural Youth Award
Biz & Tech
  • Auto
  • IT
  • Game
  • Manufacturing
  • Retail & Food
  • Energy
  • Construction
  • Airlines
Finance
  • Policies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Banks
  • Non-banks
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
Lifestyle
  • Arts
  • Books
  • Travel & Cuisine
  • Trend
  • Fashion
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
  • Translation Award
Entertainment
  • K-pop
  • K-dramas & Shows
  • Movies
  • Music
  • Performances
  • Asia Model Festival
Sports
  • Football
  • Golf
  • Baseball
  • Other Sports
World
  • Asia Pacific
  • Americas
  • Europe & Africa
  • SCMP
Video
  • On the Spot
  • Feature
  • News
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
Community
  • The Korea Times
  • all menu
  • search
  • facebookfacebook
  • twittertwitter
  • youtubeyoutube
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
  • The Korea Times
  • all menu
  • search
  • facebookfacebook
  • twittertwitter
  • youtubeyoutube
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
Lifestyle
  • Arts
  • Books
  • Travel & Cuisine
  • Trend
  • Fashion
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
  • Translation Award
Sun, December 8, 2019 | 12:09
Historic Visit
Beatification ceremony features Korean elements
Posted : 2014-08-16 13:30
Updated : 2014-08-17 17:45
Yi Whan-woo
Mail
Print Preview
Font Size Up
Font Size Down


By Yi Whan-woo


Alongside a giant picture of 124 martyrs, the beatification mass held in downtown Seoul, Saturday, also featured unique, Korean elements illustrating the history of the Catholic Church in the country.

A portrait of Paul Yun Ji-chung, Korea's first martyr executed in 1791, and those of 123 other early church pioneers was unveiled as Pope Francis recalled their sacrifices and lifted them one step closer to sainthood during Saturday's ceremony at Gwanghwamun Square.

The oil painting is three meters wide and two meters long.

It shows the 124 martyrs, who were persecuted in the late 18th and 19th centuries, wearing traditional white clothing worn during the Joseon Kingdom (1392-1897). In their hands, they each hold a palm branch, a cross and a lily, symbols of victory, martyrdom and chastity in Catholicism.

Of the 124, 100 were men and 24 women. They included Anastasia Yi Bong-geun, the youngest martyr aged only 12 at the time of her execution in 1839. She is portrayed holding a bunch of lilies and a Rose-of-Sharon, Korea's national flower.

Father James Zhou Wen-mo, the only Chinese national among the 124 pioneers, was distinctively seen as he wore a red epitrachelion around his neck.

The Pope, as well as the group of bishops and priests, wore red vestments and epitrachelions, ceremonial stoles around their necks, during the mass that paid tribute to the martyrs of one what is becoming one of Asia's major Catholic countries. The nuns at Sisters Disciples of the Divine Master in Seoul designed and created the Korean clothing worn during the ceremony.

The Korea unit of the Italy-based nun community also made a statue of The Virgin Mary and the infant Jesus dressed in traditional Korean clothes. The statue was placed on the altar during the mass.

.

Emailyistory@koreatimes.co.kr Article ListMore articles by this reporter








 
 
  • numberSeoul's changing face: A glimpse of the 1920-30s city
  • numberWartime documents show Japan's role in recruiting comfort women: Kyodo
  • numberIndian woman who alleged gang-rape dies after burn attack
  • numberMoon, Trump agree on need to maintain dialogue momentum over North Korea
  • numberSwine fever-infected wild boars on steady rise in Korea
  • numberPet-caused fires on rise in Seoul: data
  • numberUS has not yet decided whether to hold UN meeting on North Korea rights abuses
  • numberSlain Maltese reporter lived in fear, family says
  • numberChina hopes to 'strengthen cooperation' with Hong Kong police
  • numberKorean figure skater Lee Hae-in finishes 5th in Junior Grand Prix Final
  • Red-hot 'Frozen 2' melts records in Korea Red-hot 'Frozen 2' melts records in Korea
  • Korean pop culture producers eyeing Southeast Asia Korean pop culture producers eyeing Southeast Asia
  • Actor Lee Si-eon turns to serious character in thriller film 'Killed My Wife' Actor Lee Si-eon turns to serious character in thriller film 'Killed My Wife'
  • BTS' 'Boy with Luv' most-viewed YouTube music video in Korea in 2019 BTS' 'Boy with Luv' most-viewed YouTube music video in Korea in 2019
  • BTS performs at 2019 KIIS-FM Jingle Ball concert [PHOTOS] BTS performs at 2019 KIIS-FM Jingle Ball concert [PHOTOS]
DARKROOM
  • Global climate change: time is running out

    Global climate change: time is running out

  • CA cave fire burns more than 4,300 acres

    CA cave fire burns more than 4,300 acres

  • No money, no hope: South Korea's 'Dirt Spoons'

    No money, no hope: South Korea's 'Dirt Spoons'

  • Hong Kong democrats score historic victory

    Hong Kong democrats score historic victory

  • Halloween

    Halloween

  • About Korea Times
  • CEO Message
  • Times History
  • Content Sales
  • Media Kit
  • Contact Us
  • Location
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • Mobile Service
  • RSS Service
  • Ombudsman
  • hankookilbo
  • Dongwha Group
  • Code of Ethics
Copyright