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SLIDESHOW: 'Holy oppa' St. Andrew Kim Taegon leaves a piece of Korea in Bulacan

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Jacqueline Parairo, ABS-CBN News

<p>Many Korean drama and K-pop fans flock to the Shrine of St. Andrew Kim Taegon in the heart of Bocaue, Bulacan for its sprawling grounds filled with Korean-inspired scenery perfect for social media posts. But this sacred place has more history than meets the eye.</p><p>St. Andrew Kim, known as the first Korean-born Catholic priest and South Korea&#x27;s patron saint, resided there to study for priesthood as persecutions against Catholics waged in Korea during the Joseon dynasty.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/spotlight/04/04/23/koreas-patron-saint-found-refuge-in-philippine-barrio">Korea’s first Catholic priest and patron saint found refuge in Philippine barrio</a></li></ul><p>Here are some photos of the shrine:</p><div class="media-content"><div class="slider-for"><div><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/life/04/06/dsc_8684-(1).jpg"/></div><div><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/life/04/06/dsc_8722-(1).jpg"/></div><div><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/life/04/06/dsc_8666-(1).jpg"/></div><div><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/life/04/06/dsc_8646-(1).jpg"/></div><div><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/life/04/06/dsc_8648-(1).jpg"/></div><div><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/life/04/06/dsc_8654-(1).jpg"/></div><div><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/life/04/06/dsc_8652-(1).jpg"/></div><div><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/life/04/06/dsc_8679-(1).jpg"/></div><div><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/life/04/06/dsc_8681-(1).jpg"/></div><div><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/life/04/06/dsc_8720-(1).jpg"/></div></div><div class="media-content slider-desc"><div class="item-desc"><p>The facade of the Shrine of St. Andrew Kim Taegon features pagoda-style architecture, mirroring the structure of temples across East Asia.</p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Bible verses written in Korean greet visitors as they enter the Shrine of St. Andrew Kim Taegon.</p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>A statue of St. Andrew Kim Taegon, given by the Archbishop of Seoul in 1986 to the parish, stands in a shady alcove in the garden of the shrine.</p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>A museum in honor of St. Andrew Kim Taegon contains memorabilia of the saint, including his letters, statuettes, portraits, and more.</p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Housed in the museum of the Shrine of St. Andrew Kim Taegon, this statuette of the saint wearing his stole and traditional clothing rests below a mural of Jesus Christ.</p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>This altar is made from the wood of St. Andrew Kim Taegon’s beloved mango tree, and now holds the statuette of the saint and functions as a place where devotees insert their petitions.</p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>St. Andrew Kim Taegon was fluent in several languages including Latin, French, Spanish, English, and Mandarin. These are some of his surviving letters.</p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Behind Jesus Christ’s image in the chapel of the Shrine of St. Andrew Kim Taegon is another piece of the saint’s favorite mango tree, now turned into a crucifix.</p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Cultures collide in the chapel of the Shrine of St. Andrew Kim Taegon, as seen in this photo of the Virgin Mary wearing hanbok, the traditional garb of Koreans.</p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>A statue of Pope John Paul II stands on the grounds of the Shrine of St. Andrew Kim Taegon. The pope canonized the saint on May 6, 1984.</p></div></div></div>

The Shrine of St. Andrew Kim Taegon has more history to offer to many Korean drama and K-pop fans. Here are some photos of the shrine.

SLIDESHOW: 'Holy oppa' St. Andrew Kim Taegon leaves a piece of Korea in Bulacan

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SLIDESHOW: 'Holy oppa' St. Andrew Kim Taegon leaves a piece of Korea in Bulacan

Jacqueline Parairo,

ABS-CBN News

Published Apr 06, 2023 11:49 AM PHT

|

Updated Apr 06, 2023 12:11 PM PHT

Read More:

Andrew Kim Taegon

Korean Catholics

Catholic Church

Bocaue Bulacan

Korea

South Korea

K-pop

K-drama

John Paul II

Korean saint

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