Anglicanism and Orthodoxy in Korea

  Today is our last day in Seoul since we will head down to Busan for the Assembly this afternoon.  However, before  doing so we had two stops left: the Anglican Church and the Orthodox Church.

Anglicanism in Korea
  Anglicanism came to Korea in 1889 when Bishop Charles John Corfe was ordained and the first diocese of Joseon was founded.  As was the practice of many of the mission societies, the Anglican church established a number of educational institutions, medical facilities and social work in various centers throughout the country (both in the North as well as in the South).  The Anglican church sought ways for the church to be integrated into Korean culture.  For this reason many of the buildings may be found in the traditional Korean style such as the Bishop’s residence in Seoul.

  The first native Bishop, Lee Cheon Hwan, was ordained in1965 and only died in 2010. Three dioceses were established and social institutions continued to be opened.  The Anglican cathedral in Seoul is named Sts. Mary and Nicholas and was built in 1922 in the Romanesque style.  The actual community is not very large but is active with many projects.

  Cardinal Kurt Koch, President of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of Christian Unity joined us in our last visits and will travel with us to the Assembly.

Card. Koch receives gift from Anglican Bishop Paul K. Kim

The Orthodox church in Korean
 Orthodoxy came to Korea via Russia in 1900.  For various political reasons such as the Sino Japanese war and the Bolsheviks revolution, caused great difficulties in continuing orthodoxy. The care of the church was transferred to the Archbishop of Tokyo. Then came the horrors of the Second World War and the Korean Orthodox church found itself cut off once again.  Finally in 1950, the Korean War followed.  This was

disastrous for the church since the only Korean priest was captures and never seen again.  It was under the care of the Archimandrite Andreas Halkiopoulas that the church found new live in the Ecumenical Patriarchy.  Even though it is not a large community is it once which cares for its people and is open ecumenically.

Card. Koch & Metropolitan Ambrosios of Korea

After a quick lunch in the train station we were off to Busan leaving at 2:15 PM and arriving at 4:58 PM.  Now its down to business with the opening of the 10th General Assembly.