Jiseok-ri Shrine

Overview

Jiseok-ri Shrine is a shrine under the jurisdiction of the Daejeon Diocese in Jiseok-ri, Chunghwa-myeon, Buyeo-gun, Chungcheongnam-do, and is a pilgrimage site commemorating the hometown of Saint Peter Son Seon-ji and Saint Bartholomew Jeong Mun-ho, who were martyred at Supjeongi in Jeonju during the Byeongin Persecution in 1866 and canonized in 1984. The martyrdom historic site is managed by Hongsan Church.

History

[Place name] According to the introduction to the shrines of the Daejeon Diocese as reported by Ssailukseu, Jiseok-ri belonged to Imcheon-hyeon in the Joseon period and was also called Goeindol, that is, dolmen. It is said that 3 dolmens remain within the grounds of Palchungsa, located 1.7 km west of the Chunghwa-myeon Office, and that the village was called Jiseok (支石) or Seokchon (石村) until it came to be called Jiseok-ri from 1914.

[The two saints] The same introduction states that during the Byeongin Persecution (1866) the two saints were dragged to the government office, tortured, and beheaded at Supjeongi in Jeonju, and that their remains are buried at the Cheonho Shrine. Peter Son Seon-ji (1820-1866) was born in the Imcheon area of Chungcheong-do, was appointed chief catechist by Father Chastan, was the head of a family with two children, and his house served as the village Catholic mission chapel. Bartholomew Jeong Mun-ho (1801-1866) was born into a yangban family in Chungcheong-do and rose to the post of magistrate, but after baptism he declined all public offices and devoted himself to a life of faith. The two were beatified on October 6, 1968 by Pope Saint Paul 6 and canonized on May 6, 1984 by Pope Saint John Paul 2.

[Creation as a shrine] The Digital Buyeo Cultural Encyclopedia states that, on the occasion of the canonization ceremony for 103 Korean martyrs on May 6, 1984, efforts to develop places associated with the saints into shrines were promoted, and Jiseok-ri was known as the birthplace of the two saints. Good News explains that descendants of Saint Son Seon-ji, who were then living in Jiseok-ri, donated a field to Hongsan Church, asking that, despite their poverty, a canonization monument be erected. The cultural encyclopedia states that development as a shrine began with the creation of a memorial space on the field donated by descendants in 1986.

[Monuments and maintenance] The Good News and Ssailukseu introductions state that, as Hongsan Church could not confirm the exact sites of the two saints’ birthplaces, it purchased part of the village land and, in 1988 (Ssailukseu gives December 13), erected monuments commemorating the births of the two saints, an outdoor altar where about 50 people can offer Mass, and an information monument. The cultural encyclopedia states that the shrine information monument was erected on December 13, 1988 and that a parking lot was built on August 17, 2014 on an additionally purchased 484 square-meter site. In 2014, landscaping work was completed, including erecting new birth monuments and preparing a shrine marker stone.

Architecture and Space

The Digital Buyeo Cultural Encyclopedia states that, upon entering along the marker stone at the entrance to the shrine, the monument inscribed “Monument Commemorating the Births of Saint Peter Son Seon-ji and Saint Bartholomew Jeong Mun-ho” and the altar stand at the center, surrounded by a statue of the Virgin Mary and the Way of the Cross set in a grassy plaza, and that a pilgrimage commemorative stamp is provided. The shrine is located at Jiseok-ri 368-1, Chunghwa-myeon, beside the road near Palchungsa. The cultural encyclopedia describes it as a simple pilgrimage site commemorating martyred saints from the region, with minimal conveniences.

Related Places and Persons

• Hongsan Church: It manages the martyrdom historic site, holds portions of the two saints’ remains, and guides pilgrims to visit in connection with Jiseok-ri Shrine (cultural encyclopedia, Good News).
• Cheonho Shrine: The remains of the two saints are buried there (Good News, Ssailukseu).
• Supjeongi in Jeonju: This is where the two saints were beheaded (Good News).
• Palchungsa: It is located near the shrine, and 3 dolmens are said to remain within its grounds (Ssailukseu, cultural encyclopedia).

References and Sources

1. Catholic Good News Shrines and Historic Sites, “Jiseok-ri.” The hometown of the two saints, the donation of a field by descendants, the birth monuments and outdoor altar in 1988, and maintenance in 2014.
   https://m.catholic.or.kr/web/holyplace/?seq=2309
2. Digital Buyeo Cultural Encyclopedia, “Buyeo Jiseok-ri Shrine.” Beginning of shrine development in 1986, information monument in 1988, creation of a parking lot in 2014, and composition of the shrine.
   https://buyeo.grandculture.net/buyeo/toc/GC09001169
3. Ssailukseu (reprint of the Daejeon Diocese shrine introduction), “Jiseok-ri Shrine.” Origin of the place name, short biographies of Son Seon-ji and Jeong Mun-ho, and dates of beatification and canonization.
   https://cylooks.co.kr/ca/shop/1712036765