Martyrs of Korea
Korea, Martyrs of (1839–67). Christianity first came to Korea through Christian books sent from China, and the first Korean Christian was baptized in Peking in 1784. A Chinese priest in 1794 found 4, 000 Christians; but he was killed in 1801 and the Koreans were without a priest for 30 years. Pius VII sent a bishop, Laurence Imbert, who arrived in disguise in 1837, preceded by two other priests of the same Paris Missionary Society. Christianity was forbidden and for two years they worked in complete secrecy, rising at 2.30 a.m. and ministering at unusual times in conditions of extreme poverty. The growing numbers of Christians (estimated at 9, 000) could not for ever remain hidden. Violent persecution followed and the three French priests allowed themselves to be taken, to avert massacre and apostasy. They were beheaded at Seoul on 21 September 1839. Many Koreans were martyred in the same persecution, either like Agatha Kim or John Ri in the same year, or, a few years later, in 1846, when the first Korean priest to be martyred was Andrew Kim. Between 1846 and 1867 more missionaries and their converts died for their Christian faith. In all 103 martyrs, including ten French missionaries and 93 Koreans (priests, nuns, and lay people), were beatified in 1925 and canonized at Seoul by Pope John Paul II in 1984. Feast: 20 September.
Bibliography
Click here for a list of abbreviations used in this bibliography.
- C. T. Kim and S. A. Cho'e, Lives of 103 Martyr Saints of Korea (1984); D. W. Kim, A History of Religions in Korea (1988); J. H. Grayson, Korea: a religious history (1989); B.L.S. 9, 191–6
