Saenamteo Martyrs' Shrine

Overview

Saenamteo Martyrs' Shrine is a Catholic martyrs' shrine on the Han River in Ichon-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul. Saenamteo, which in the Joseon period was a military drill ground and an execution ground for grave criminals, became a place of martyrdom for clergy and Church leaders through the Gihae, Byeongo and Byeongin persecutions after the Chinese priest James Zhou Wenmo was executed during the Sinyu Persecution in 1801. The shrine has a martyrs' memorial church and the Saenamteo Memorial Hall, and it is under the jurisdiction of the Archdiocese of Seoul.

History

‘Saenamteo’ is an abbreviation of ‘Saenamuteo,’ and is said to be a name given because silver grass and trees grew thickly. The Encyclopedia of Korean National Culture states that it is also called ‘Nodeul’ or ‘Sanamgi (沙南基).’ From the early Joseon period it was a military training ground and an execution ground for state criminals and others, and during the period of persecution of Catholicism it was used as an execution ground for clergy and leading faithful.

According to materials from the Special Episcopal Committee for Beatification and Canonization, Saenamteo began to be used as an execution site for Catholic believers from the Sinyu Persecution in 1801. Father James Zhou Wenmo was executed on May 31 by beheading at the military gate and became the first martyr of this place. During the Gihae Persecution in 1839, Bishop Imbert, the 2 head of the Diocese of Joseon, and Fathers Maubant and Chastan were martyred on September 21. During the Byeongo Persecution in 1846, Father Andrew Kim Dae-geon, the first Korean priest, was martyred on September 16, and Charles Hyeon Seok-mun on September 19. During the Byeongin Persecution in 1866, Bishop Berneux, the 4 head of the Diocese of Joseon, and Fathers Bretenieres, Beaulieu, Dorie, Petitnicolas and Pourthie were martyred on March 7, and Mark Jeong Ui-bae and Alexius U Se-yeong on March 11. The same source explains that among those martyred at Saenamteo, 11 were canonized in 1984 and Father Zhou Wenmo was beatified in 2014.

According to the shrine introduction by Good News (Archdiocese of Seoul), Saenamteo was designated as a martyrdom memorial site in 1950, a monument for the ‘Catholic Martyrs’ Shrine’ was erected in 1956, and the Society of the Korean Blessed Martyr Priests has managed this place since 1957. In 1981, Saenamteo Parish was separated and made independent from Hangang Parish. In 1984, to commemorate the 200 anniversary of the founding of the Catholic Church in Korea, construction of the present memorial church began and it was blessed in 1987. The Encyclopedia of Korean National Culture likewise records that nearby land was purchased in 1950 and designated as a martyrdom memorial site, a memorial tower was erected in 1956, construction of the martyrs' memorial grand church began in 1984, and its dedication ceremony was held in 1987.

Architecture and Space

The present memorial church was built in Korean traditional-house style by the Society of the Korean Blessed Martyr Priests, and the Encyclopedia of Korean National Culture explains that it was designed as a purely Korean building departing from the conventional Western-style church architecture. On September 3, 2006, the basement parking lot of the church was remodeled to create the ‘Saenamteo Memorial Hall,’ whose blessing ceremony was held for use as an exhibition hall. Materials from the Special Episcopal Committee for Beatification and Canonization include a photo caption stating that the remains of Bishop Berneux, Father Kim Dae-geon and Father Bretenieres are enshrined in Saenamteo Memorial Church. To commemorate the inclusion of Saenamteo Martyrs' Shrine on September 14, 2018 in the ‘Seoul Pilgrimage Route,’ an international pilgrimage site approved by the Holy See, the glass painting 〈Blessing of Father Kim Dae-geon〉 (work by Father Jo Gwang-ho) was produced in front of the railway soundproof wall in front of the main gate and installed the following year.

Religious Significance and Visiting Context

Good News introduces Saenamteo as one of the places that produced the most martyrs in the history of the Catholic Church in Korea, together with the intersection outside Seosomun Gate and Danggogae. The Saenamteo martyrs compiled by the Special Episcopal Committee for Beatification and Canonization are Andrew Kim Dae-geon, Charles Hyeon Seok-mun, Simeon Berneux, Justus Bretenieres, Henricus Dorie, Ludovicus Beaulieu, Mark Jeong Ui-bae, Alexius U Se-yeong, James Zhou Wenmo and Thomas Kim Myeon-ho.

References and Sources

1. Good News (Archdiocese of Seoul), Catholic information ‘Archdiocese of Seoul > Saenamteo Martyrs' Shrine.’ Confirmed the designation as a martyrdom memorial site in 1950, the monument in 1956, management by the Blessed Priests Society in 1957, the parish separation in 1981, construction of the memorial church in 1984–87, the memorial hall in 2006, and inclusion in the Seoul Pilgrimage Route and the glass painting in 2018.
   https://maria.catholic.or.kr/sa_ho/list/view.asp?ctxtOrgNum=2291&menugubun=holyplace
2. Encyclopedia of Korean National Culture, ‘Saenamteo.’ Confirmed the alternative names of Saenamteo, its use as a drill ground and execution ground in the Joseon period, the martyrdoms in each persecution, designation as a martyrdom memorial site in 1950, the memorial tower in 1956, and construction of the memorial church in 1984–87.
   https://encykorea.aks.ac.kr/Article/E0027439
3. Special Episcopal Committee for Beatification and Canonization (Catholic Bishops' Conference of Korea), related shrine ‘Saenamteo Memorial Church.’ Confirmed the origin of the place name, the martyrs and dates of martyrdom in each persecution, the canonization of 11 and the beatification of Father Zhou Wenmo, and the list of martyrs.
   https://cbck.or.kr/koreanmartyrs/Shrines/75