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Kwangju archdiocese has designated one of its churches a “martyrs’ memorial church” in honor of the first two Catholics who died for their faith in the area.
The archdiocese announced on Sept. 10 it has confirmed that Yi Hwa-baek and another Catholic called Oh died near Younggwang Church during the Shinyu Persecution in 1801.
The archdiocese had previously thought that Paul Kang Yeong-won and another two who died in 1871 in Naju were the archdiocese’s first martyrs.
Catholicism is believed to have arrived in the Yeonggwang area in the 1790s.
“With the designation [of the of the martyrs' memorial church], I hope lots of Catholics would visit the church and learn the spirituality of the early Korean martyrs,” said Archbishop Hyginus Kim Hee-joong of Kwangju.
“Although we do not face a situation of martyrdom these days, we still have to appreciate the martyrs’ faith and keep it alive,” said Father Stephen Moon Byong-goo, parish priest of Younggwang Church.
“I hope Catholics visit our parish and express the martyrs’ spirituality in their daily lives through sacrifice, consideration for others and volunteer service.”