SPOTLIGHT 24/11/15 Korean, Japanese Catholics honor 17th-century martyrs

[성기화 요셉]

Korean, Japanese Catholics honor 17th-century martyrs

Blessed Kaiyo and martyr Diego Koichi were killed during a period of Japan's persecution of Christians 400 years ago

Korean and Japanese Catholics are seen following a memorial Mass to honor 17th century martyrs Kaiyo and Diego Koichi in Nagasaki, Japan, on Nov. 15. (Photo: Catholic Times)

By UCA News reporter

Published: November 21, 2024 11:14 AM GMT

Updated: November 21, 2024 11:27 AM GMT

Catholics from South Korea and Japan have jointly marked the 400th anniversary of the martyrdom of two Catholics who were martyred for their faith in Japan.

Catholics from the Archdiocese of Daegu in Korea and the Archdiocese of Nagasaki in Japan joined the ceremony to honor Blessed Kaiyo and martyr Diego Koichi, at the St. Philip Cathedral in Nagasaki on Nov. 15.

Bishop Jonh Bosco Jang Shin-ho, vicar general of the Daegu Archdiocese, celebrated a memorial Mass on the occasion concelebrated with Archbishop Michiaki Nakamura of Nagasaki.

A group of Korean Catholic pilgrims, including priests, led by the Korean Women’s Association, joined the ceremony as part of their tour of holy sites in Japan.  

“Let us join hands with the two martyrs and become one in love and forgiveness,” Archbishop Nakamura said in his homily. “Let us all become one in acceptance, prayer, and evangelization to all.”

After the Mass, a wreath-laying ceremony was held at the monument to the two martyrs in the 26 Saints Memorial Hall. 

The Archdiocese of Daegu and the Archdiocese of Nagasaki jointly erected and blessed this monument in 2016.

The two dioceses have maintained exchanges for a long time. The common denominator is that they are the closest countries and the churches have grown based on devotion to the two martyrs.

Kaiyo and Koichi Diego were martyred together in Nagasaki on Nov. 15, 1624, during a period of Japan’s persecution of Christians.

Kaiyo, a Korean who had been taken to Japan as a prisoner during Japan’s invasion of Korea, met Spanish Jesuit missionary Father Pedro Morejon and was baptized. He was arrested while helping with the mission.

Diego Koichi, a farmer, was imprisoned for hiding a missionary. 

The two met in the same prison and achieved profound unity in their faith despite severe torture. Even while being burned at the stake, they continued to call out to God and the Virgin Mary.

The Vatican beatified Blessed Kaiyo on July 7, 1876.

This report is brought to you in partnership with the Catholic Times of Korea.