Hwahyeon Ibyeok Shrine

Overview

The Hwahyeon Yi Byeok Shrine is a shrine of the Catholic Diocese of Chuncheon located in Hwahyeon-ri, Hwahyeon-myeon, Pocheon-si, Gyeonggi-do, honoring Servant of God Yi Byeok (John the Baptist, 1754–1785), described as the first lay leader of the Korean Church. Bishop Kim Ju-yeong (Simon), Bishop of Chuncheon, officially proclaimed it as a shrine commemorating Yi Byeok’s true tomb site and birthplace site on May 20, 2023.

History

According to Good News, John the Baptist Yi Byeok was born in Hwahyeon-ri, Pocheon in 1754. His family was originally of military status but devoted itself to learning, and he studied in close friendship with the brothers Jeong Yak-jeon and Jeong Yak-yong. Judging from the winter 1779 Cheonjinam lecture record, he appears to have encountered Catholic books before 1779, and according to Servant of God Yak-jeon, he encountered the books around the mid-1770s through his teacher Ambrose Gwon Cheol-sin. He later moved to Seoul, and at the end of 1783, upon hearing that Yi Seung-hun was going to Beijing, he asked him to meet Western missionaries, receive instruction, and bring back books. When Yi Seung-hun was baptized in spring 1784 and returned, Yi Byeok studied the new books deeply. In winter 1784, at Yi Byeok’s house near Supyogyo, Yi Seung-hun baptized Gwon Cheol-sin, Gwon Il-sin, Jeong Yak-jeon, Jeong Yak-yong and others, which Good News introduces as the first baptism ceremony performed in Joseon. At that time Yi Byeok’s baptismal name was John the Baptist.

In spring 1785, while believers led by Yi Byeok were gathered at Kim Beom-u’s house, government officers raided and arrested them in the event known as the Eulsa Chujo Jeokbal Incident. Afterwards Yi Byeok was pressured by his family to apostatize, and his father summoned him to his hometown and confined him at home. Torn between faith and filial piety, Yi Byeok died bearing witness to his faith at the age of 31 (Good News, Witnesses of Faith of the Diocese of Chuncheon).

Yi Byeok’s tomb was placed near his hometown house in Hwahyeon-ri, Pocheon, with the tombs of his two wives buried jointly on the left and right. The Catholic Newspaper reports that Yi Byeok’s tomb remained veiled in history after his martyrdom, was discovered after more than 190 years in the late 1970s, and was relocated to the Cheonjinam Shrine in June 1979. Good News records that it was discovered on February 15, 1979 at the communal cemetery at mountain lot 289-1 in Hwahyeon-ri, that the three tombs were excavated on April 10 of the same year, that the remains were enshrined at Hyehwa-dong Church and Myeongdong Cathedral in Seoul and then relocated to the Cheonjinam Shrine on June 24. The present true tomb site has a burial mound and tombstone created after the relocation, and the original soil of the tomb remains.

On May 20, 2023, Bishop Kim proclaimed, “We officially proclaim the Chuncheon Diocese’s ‘Hwahyeon Yi Byeok Shrine’ commemorating the true tomb site and birthplace site of Gwangam Yi Byeok John the Baptist,” and the proclamation described this place as “the place where his earthly journey began and ended.” In August of the same year, a full-time priest for the shrine was appointed. According to the Catholic Newspaper, effective August 24, Father Go Bong-yeon (Joseph) took office as the full-time priest for the Hwahyeon Yi Byeok Shrine and the Pocheon Hongin Shrine, and Father Go said that in 2009, when he was pastor of Ildong Parish in Pocheon, he proposed the development of the Yi Byeok shrine to Pocheon City.

Architecture and Space

The Hwahyeon Yi Byeok Shrine centers on the Gwangam Yi Byeok Memorial Church dedicated by the Diocese of Chuncheon. Good News explains that this memorial church has a distinctive form in which a central courtyard surrounded by high stone walls open only to the sky sits together with the church, and that the courtyard enclosed by walls and open only to the sky signifies Yi Byeok’s very name while also signifying Yi Byeok’s spirit of looking only to God toward heaven. The Catholic Newspaper reports that, passing through the courtyard and entering the church, a cross against a blue sky-colored background is seen.

Beside the shrine, at the site of Yi Byeok’s birthplace, there is the Gwangam Yi Byeok Historic Site created by Pocheon City. The site includes a birthplace reproduction hall and memorial hall, a guides’ information center, an outdoor performance venue and more (Good News). The birthplace site beyond the shrine fence is preserved by the Gyeongju Yi clan, while the nearby true tomb site is managed by the Diocese of Chuncheon. The true tomb site is Pocheon Local Heritage No. 48 (Catholic Newspaper).

Significance for Faith and Visiting Context

As a martyr under the Joseon Dynasty, Yi Byeok is included among the candidates for the 2 round of beatification promoted by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea, “John the Baptist Yi Byeok and companions 132” (Diocese of Chuncheon). Good News explains that the Hwahyeon Yi Byeok Shrine designated by the Diocese of Chuncheon and the Gwangam Yi Byeok Historic Site created by the local government coexist, so pilgrims can look at both Yi Byeok’s Catholic faith and his life as a Silhak scholar.

Related Places and People

• Pocheon Martyrs’ Shrine: the martyrdom site in the same city of Blessed Hongin Leo, which a Catholic Newspaper article reports is about 20 km from the Hwahyeon Yi Byeok Shrine.
• Cheonjinam Shrine: the place to which Yi Byeok’s remains were relocated in 1979 (Good News).
• Yi Seung-hun: the person who was baptized in Beijing, returned, and baptized Yi Byeok (Diocese of Chuncheon).

References and Sources

1. Good News (Archdiocese of Seoul), Chuncheon Diocese Hwahyeon Yi Byeok Shrine. The life of Yi Byeok, the discovery and relocation of the tomb, the shrine proclamation and appointment of the dedicated priest, and the composition of the memorial church and the Pocheon City historic site were confirmed.
   https://maria.catholic.or.kr/mobile/sa_ho/list/view.asp?ctxtOrgNum=4708&menugubun=holyplace
2. Catholic Newspaper, [Martyrs’ Month Special] Chuncheon Diocese ‘Hwahyeon Yi Byeok Shrine’ (September 12, 2023). The shrine proclamation date, appointment of the dedicated priest, shrine facilities, designation of the true tomb site as local heritage, and discovery and relocation of Yi Byeok’s tomb were confirmed.
   https://www.catholictimes.org/article/202309120208973
3. Catholic Diocese of Chuncheon, Witnesses of Faith. The birthplace of Yi Byeok, his baptism, the events after the Eulsa Chujo Jeokbal Incident, and inclusion among beatification candidates were confirmed.
   https://www.cccatholic.or.kr/diocese/history/witness