Changchung Cathedral
Encyclopedia
Changchung Cathedral is the nominal cathedral
of the Roman Catholic
Bishop of Pyongyang
, North Korea
, located in the Changchung neighborhood of Songyo-guyok, Pyongyang
. It one of only four Christian
Churches in North Korea, all of which are located in Pyongyang.
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 1/6 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; even the famous Christian Nationalist Cho Man-sik
, initially more influential than Kim, was arrested and shot. 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 Ryong-ho, had been imprisoned by the communist government; he later disappeared.
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. However, the cathedral currently has no Bishop or even ordained priest, as Pyongyang has strained relations with the Holy See
.
Cathedral
A cathedral is a Christian church that contains the seat of a bishop...
of the Roman Catholic
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
Bishop of Pyongyang
Bishop of Pyongyang
The Diocese of Pyongyang was created by Pope John XXIII in 1962. Founded in 1927 as an prefecture apostolic, it was promoted to vicariate apostolic in 1939. Its last official bishop, Francis Hong Ryong-ho, was imprisoned in 1949 and later disappeared...
, North Korea
North Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
, located in the Changchung neighborhood of Songyo-guyok, Pyongyang
Pyongyang
Pyongyang is the capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, commonly known as North Korea, and the largest city in the country. Pyongyang is located on the Taedong River and, according to preliminary results from the 2008 population census, has a population of 3,255,388. The city was...
. It one of only four Christian
Religion in North Korea
Traditionally Religion in North Korea primarily consists of Buddhism and Confucianism and to a lesser extent Korean shamanism and syncretic Chondogyo. Since the arrival of Europeans in the 18th century, there is a Christian minority...
Churches in North Korea, all of which are located in Pyongyang.
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 1/6 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
Kim Il-sung
Kim Il-sung was a Korean communist politician who led the Democratic People's Republic of Korea from its founding in 1948 until his death in 1994. He held the posts of Prime Minister from 1948 to 1972 and President from 1972 to his death...
persecuted Christians as imperialist collaborators and spies; even the famous Christian Nationalist Cho Man-sik
Cho Man-sik
Cho Man-sik was an activist in Korea's independence movement. He became involved in the power struggle that enveloped North Korea in the months following the Japanese surrender after World War II, but was eventually forced from power by the Soviet-backed communists in the north...
, initially more influential than Kim, was arrested and shot. 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
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
by American forces. Earlier, in 1949, the last formal Bishop of Pyongyang, Francis Hong Ryong-ho, had been imprisoned by the communist government; he later disappeared.
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. However, the cathedral currently has no Bishop or even ordained priest, as Pyongyang has strained relations with the Holy See
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
.