( Entrance of the CheonjinAm where the Basilca scheduled be built in 100 years )

  It was as unknown buddhist hermitage and since 1979 has became a center of attention as one of the Holy places of the church in korea.

The catholic church in Korea traces its origins to 1784, when Yi Seung-Hun was baptized in Peking of China as the first korean christian. However,four years before this In Jan 1780, the catholic church already been started admirably here

in "CheonjinAm"

               .

" PRIMARIO NOVAE AEDIS  LAPIDI IN VRBE  CHEON JIN AM  ECCLESIAE SACRO  NATALI LOCO IN COREA.

APOSTOLICAM IMPERTIMVS BENEDICTIONEM  GREGI CONCILIATRICEM PERENNIS  DEI  FAVORIS

XXI SEPT.MCMXCIII "

This was a study group led by Kwon Cheol-Shin,one of the most renowned scholars of those days.

The initial members of the group were over ten in number.
The most prominent ones were 43 years old Kwon Cheol Shin,and 36 Kwon Ill-Shin brothers and 23 years old Jung Yak-Jeon 20  Jung Yak Jong and 17  Jung Yak Jong brothers And Yi Jong Ok and Kwon Sang-Hak.

Later,Yi Byok(1754-1785) joined the study group,when he was 26 years old,he left his home in SuPyo-Dong in Seoul and walked a snowy road of over 50 KM to the foot of AengJa-Bong then he met the scholars and discussed with them christian philosophy through the night.
They compared christian philosophy with confucian philosophy.

(Tombs of Founders of  Lee,Byuk, Lee,Seung Hoon, Kwon,Il Shin,  Kwon,Chul Shin,J ung,Yak Jong)

They finally agreed on the existence of God the creator and eternal souls.
The scholars had initially studied the christian faith as a philosophy of life.
But  Yi Byok   joined the study group,it became a spiritual way of life.They offered prayers and practiced their faith according to regulations made up be themselves.
They got up so early in the morning and washed themselves to get ready for prayers at different hours of theday.

They were very devout in their prayers and in observing their regulations for maintaining a spiritual life.
It is an amazing fact that the korean scholars found and studied the catholic faith by themselves.since they didn't know about Roman calendar,they observed the 7th,14th,21th,28th day of the lunar months as the Lord's days of prayers and no work.

Yi Byok was most active impressing about the mystery of the universe,the existence of the creator,heaven and hell
He also managed to send Yi Sung-Hun to peking to be baptized.
Yi Sung-Hun returned to korea after his baptism,and name is Peter,Yi Byok baptized by Yi Sung-Hung and his baptismal name is John the Baptist.

In the autumn of 1784,Yi Byok baptized interpreter Kim Bum-Woo   and his brother,who lived in "Myung Ye-Bang" in the heart of the capital city of seoul.
his house later became a gathering place for religious service and catechetical studies.This site is the place where Myung-Dong Cathedral,the center of catholicism in korea,is now standing since Dedicated to the Immaculate conception of Mary in May of 1898.

Special Mass at Noon every last Sunday.and  Eucharistic Benediction  is offered
for the pilgims just after Mass.