Exploring the Naepo Catholic Pilgrimage Trail and Sapgyo Church
Hello,
I am a reporter from the 9th session of the Domi Reporter program.
On the 11th, I visited Naepo New Town.
Naepo New Town is an administrative complex city located in Hongbuk-eup, Hongseong-gun and Sapgyo-eup, Yesan-gun, Chungcheongnam-do.
It was built as major public institutions and the Chungnam Provincial Office relocated from Daejeon, and it has been designated as an innovative city leading the balanced development of Chungnam.
The art museum, which provides deep artistic experiences at an affordable cost, has gained popularity among the younger generation as a cultural date spot due to the rise of social media.
The Chungnam Art Museum is currently under construction across from the Chungnam Library, which has already become a landmark in Naepo New Town.
Once the Chungnam Art Museum opens next year, it is expected to be loved by residents as a complex cultural space symbolizing Naepo New Town, alongside the Chungnam Library.
Wishing for the successful completion of the Chungnam Art Museum, I headed towards Sapgyo Church via the Naepo Catholic Pilgrimage Trail.
The Naepo Catholic Pilgrimage Trail connects sacred sites that bear the history of Catholic persecution and martyrdom in the Naepo region of Chungcheongnam-do (including Dangjin, Seosan, Yesan, and Hongseong).
Starting from the Yeosaul Sacred Site, the center of early Catholic faith in Korea and the hometown of 'Apostle of Naepo' Lee Jon-chang, it leads to Solmoe Sacred Site and Haemi Martyrdom Sacred Site, forming a historically rich walking route.
I personally explored the Baenadri Sacred Site from Sapgyo Church, which is part of the second course of the Naepo Catholic Pilgrimage Trail.
Located in Sapgyo-eup, Yesan-gun, Chungcheongnam-do, Sapgyo Church is a humble and serene religious facility established in 1967, belonging to the Daejeon Diocese of the Catholic Church.
Notably, the altar painting created by Father André Bouton in 1968 has been preserved, and Sapgyo Church oversees the Baenadri Sacred Site, which commemorates Catholic martyrs.
In 2023, the altar painting created by Father André Bouton in 1968 was dramatically discovered during the church's restoration, leading to its restoration and gaining significant recognition for its religious, historical, and particularly art historical value.
Father André Bouton was a French priest who worked as a painter at the St. Benedict Monastery in Waegwan since the 1960s.
The rural religious facility is characterized by its quaint and modest building harmonizing with the natural landscape, a close-knit community of elderly believers, and a spacious and open atmosphere that is more welcoming compared to urban churches.
With the absence of urban bustle, it provides an ideal environment for mass and prayer, while the interactions between priests and believers are lively, creating a welcoming space for pilgrims and visitors.
The bridge leading to the Baenadri Sacred Site from Sapgyo Church is called Baenadari Bridge.
The bridges along the Sapgyo Stream include Sapdari Bridge, Chungui Bridge, Baenadari Bridge, and Suchon Bridge. In the past, there was a bridge made of woven branches (brushwood) to cross the Sapgyo Stream, which was written in Chinese characters as 'Sapgyo (揷橋)'.
There is also a theory that the Korean word 'Sapdeul' (meaning 'the fields in between') was transformed due to its similar pronunciation to 'bridge'. The singer Cho Young-nam is famous for his song 'Sapdari', which reminisces about his childhood memories in his hometown.
The name 'Baenadri' originates from the island-shaped village by the Sapgyo Stream.
Baenadri Sacred Site, located in Yongdong-ri, Sapgyo-eup, Yesan-gun, is a Catholic martyrdom site. It is a site filled with the pain of believers who were martyred while maintaining their faith during the 1817 Haemi Rope Persecution.
The name 'Baenadri' comes from the island-shaped village by the Sapgyo Stream, which had to be accessed by boat during high tide or floods, and it was also referred to as 'Dori' in Chinese characters.
The stone altar at the center of the Baenadri Sacred Site is surrounded by a grassy plaza shaped like a cross.
Near the center of the sacred site, there are monuments and statues honoring the faith of the blessed.
Baenadri Sacred Site has public parking and restrooms, making it convenient for tourists visiting Chungnam to pilgrimage to the sacred site.
Having completed the exploration of the second course of the Naepo Catholic Pilgrimage Trail, I became curious about the third course leading to Chungui Shrine via Suchon Bridge and Sesim Stream.
The Naepo Catholic Pilgrimage Trail, which connects the history of persecution and martyrdom with sacred Catholic sites, is approaching anew.
Images:
Source :https://blog.naver.com/sinmunman/224318332233
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