Whenever I travel, one of my favourite things-to-do is to check out the various religious sites of that country. It helps me to understand the country a lot better — whether there are diverse beliefs, and how diversity is being respected. Things that I sometimes look out for is how big or how hidden is the religious site - is there anyone there? Is the site used as a tourist spot, a religious or heritage spot? Little details like these tell a lot about a country's way of thought. My friends and I chanced upon Myeongdong Cathedral while we were making our way to the busy street. As I venture off and explore the church grounds on my own, I found that the church is hauntingly romantic.
Myeongdong Cathedral was constructed in 1898, and it was not only in the 19th century where there was religious freedom in Korea. The site hold significant religious, architectural and social values. About 10.6% of south koreans are catholics (i.e. 5-6 million Koreans). The location of the cathedral is a respite from the busy streets of Myeongdong — I can imagine myself coming here every week if I lived in busy Seoul.
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| No eating and drinking - A place to pray |
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| Inside of Myeongdong Cathedral (Credit - Myeongdong Cathedral) |
A hidden prayer room
Something noteworthy of catholicism is that there's a quiet room with a statue (usually Mother Mary). This is the case for all catholic churches in the world. The quiet room (or prayer room) in Myeongdong Cathedral was really hidden. There were tears of sobbing coming from an old lady — it just felt so tranquil. The silence that engulfed me made me reflect on how delicate life is — how we constantly have to communicate and reach out to God, and to remember that
we love because He first loved us...
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| He who kneels before God can stand before armies of men. |
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| Candles as offerings |
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| Gothic architecture with streetlights illuminating the building |
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| A large statue of Mother Mary at the back of the church |
How to get to Myeongdong Cathedral
1. Take the subway to Myeongdong (Jeonghwa Arts College).
2. Take exit 10. You'll pass by a row of bicycles.
3. Turn left. Best if you use Google Maps for directions!
Myeongdong Cathedral
명동대성당
Website:
http://www.mdsd.or.krAddress: 74 Myeongdong-gil, Jeodong 1(il)-ga, Jung-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Phone: +82 2-774-1784
Myeongdong Cathedral was constructed in 1898, and it was not only in the 19th century where there was religious freedom in Korea. The site hold significant religious, architectural and social values. About 10.6% of south koreans are catholics (i.e. 5-6 million Koreans). The location of the cathedral is a respite from the busy streets of Myeongdong — I can imagine myself coming here every week if I lived in busy Seoul.
Reviewed by digitaldistrictgirl
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