The Seoul Archdiocese will hold a series of cultural events to celebrate the Jubilee Year of Mercy and commemorate the 150th anniversary of the 1886 Byeongin Persecution.
The theme is "Martyrdom and Mercy" and the Culture Committee of Seoul will oversee the events scheduled to take place Aug. 24 to Oct. 30 around Myeong-dong Cathedral and the Seoul Archdiocesan curia building.
On Aug. 24, the cultural events will begin with an exhibition by the Catholic Artist Association of Seoul and a seminar. About 60 art pieces on the theme, "Martyrdom and Mercy" will be exhibited from Aug. 24 to 30.
The Catholic Theater Association of Seoul will perform a play about martyr "Joseph Im Chi-baeg" from Sept. 4 to 9.
On Sept. 29, Aquinas Choir and Saint Kim Tae-gon Choir will perform the oratorio, "Father Thomas Choi Yang-eop, the Apostle of Love!" And Mozart's "Vesperae Solennes de Confessore, K.339."
The Third Catholic Film Festival is being organized by the Korea Catholic Cineastes Association and is the last in the program. The festival, "Life Together," will run from Oct. 27 to 30 and show 50 movies including domestic and international short and long dramas, documentaries and animations.
During the Byeongin persecution of 1886 approximately 9,000 people, almost half of the total Catholic population in Korea at the time, were killed for their faith.