Dangjin Solmoe Shrine, remodeled and reopened
Becoming a central sacred place for Catholicism in Korea
Solmoe Shrine, Dangjin-si, South Chungcheong Province, the birthplace of Korea’s first priest, St. Andrew Kim Dae-geon (1821-1846), has been reborn as a central shrine for Korean Catholicism. The existing Father Kim Dae-geon Memorial Hall reopened last month through extensive internal remodeling, and the ‘Father Kim Dae-geon Family Memorial Hall’ was created in the main sanctuary. The remodeled Father Kim Dae-geon Memorial Hall also houses the Daejeon Diocese History Museum, where you can see the history of Catholicism in the Daejeon and South Chungcheong regions at a glance.
Father Kim Dae-geon’s family produced more than 10 martyrs over four generations, including great-grandfather Kim Jin-hu, great-grandfather Kim Jong-han, father Kim Je-jun, great-aunt Teresa Kim, and Father Kim Dae-geon. For this reason, the Solmoe (meaning pine trees forming the moe) Holy Site has become the most important pilgrimage site and cradle in the history of Korean Catholicism, but it is true that it is not well known except by Father Kim Dae-geon. To commemorate this, the names of the martyrs of Father Kim Dae-geon’s family spanning four generations were decorated with sculptures one by one on four podiums and explained with a family tree.
At the Father Kim Dae-geon Memorial Hall, there are about 20 letters in Chinese and Korean that Father Kim sent to his teachers, Father Legrez, Father Riveit, Bishop Perreol, and fellow Korean believers, as well as a summary of the situation he sent to Father Rivet when he stayed in Seoul for a while in 1845. A memorandum and a map of Joseon drawn at the time of entry were displayed. In addition, you can also see the footsteps of the Diocese of Daejeon, which produced the most martyrs in the history of our Catholic Church. Franciscan Aide Father Heo Kwon-beom of Solmoe Shrine said, “Father Kim Dae-geon is a saint who is revered more than anyone else, but his family, who should be respected as much, was not honored well.” “I hope we all remember together and feel how beautiful and precious communal faith is,” he said.
Reporter Lee Jin-gu [email protected]
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