Changchung Cathedral

History

Before the division of Korea, Pyongyang was the city with the highest number of Christian believers in Korea, and was known as the "Korean Jerusalem". By 1945, nearly of its citizens were Christians. Therefore, Pyongyang was made into the only diocese in northern Korea.

After the division of Korea, however, the Communist government under Kim Il Sung persecuted Christians as imperialist collaborators and spies. Much of the Catholic community was either killed or imprisoned, and many more fled south.

The original cathedral, built of red brick in the late 19th century, was destroyed in the Korean War by American forces. Earlier, in 1949, the last formal Bishop of Pyongyang, Francis Hong Yong-ho, had been imprisoned by the communist government; he later disappeared. His death was acknowledged by the Holy See in 2013, although the exact date of death is unknown.

In 1988 a new cathedral was opened in East Pyongyang. At the same time, two nondenominational Protestant churches were opened in an effort by the government to show religious freedom.

Operation

The cathedral is operated by the Korean Catholic Association and is not affiliated with the Holy See. Because of the strained relations with the Holy See, the cathedral currently has no bishop or even an ordained priest. There is no resident priest either. Masses are occasionally offered by foreign clergy when they visit Pyongyang. In 2015, an agreement was reached between the Korean Catholic Association and the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Korea, allowing South Korean priests and bishops to celebrate Mass and administer the sacraments in the Cathedral on major feast days.

There is a noodle factory associated with the church that receives financial support from the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Seoul and Catholic Koreans in the United States. File:Jangchung Catholic Church (15362604440).jpg|Interior, facing the entrance File:Jangchung Catholic Church (15545523971).jpg|Interior, facing the altar

References

References

1. Justin Corfield. (2014). "Historical Dictionary of Pyongyang". Anthem Press.
2. (24 March 2015). "While pope visits the South, North Korea's 'quiet Catholics' cut off from the Vatican".
3. (4 November 2013). "Cappella Papale Santa Messa In Suffragio Dei Cardinali E Vescovi Defunti Nel Corso Dell'Anno Celebrata Dal Santo Padre Francesco".
4. Zwirko, Colin. (9 October 2018). "Kim Jong Un says Pope welcome to visit Pyongyang: Blue House". [[NK News]].
5. "New Atheists and Old Atheists | Issue 78 | Philosophy Now".
6. (7 December 2015). "Mass at N. Korean cathedral".