Oura Tenshudo Oura Cathedral

One of the constituent assets of the World Cultural Heritage Site “Hidden Christian Sites in the Nagasaki and Amakusa Regions”

It was built in the Nagasaki settlement after the opening of the country at the end of the Edo period, and is known as the oldest existing church in Japan. It is a Gothic-style church with beautiful stained glass that faces Minami-Yamate Glover Street.

In March of the following year after its completion at the end of 1864, the Hidden Christians of Urakami visited and confessed their faith, making it the stage for a ``discovery of believers'' unprecedented in the history of world religions. This church was dedicated to the 3 Japanese saints who were martyred just before its construction, and the front of the cathedral faces Nishizaka, the site of the martyrdom.

Some of the stained glass inside the church is from when it was renovated in 1879, giving it a historic and majestic atmosphere. The church is made of brick, but the surface is painted white with stucco. It was designated as a national treasure in 1933, but was re-designated in 1953 after the damage caused by the atomic bomb was repaired.
In addition, it is one of the constituent assets of "Hidden Christian Sites in the Nagasaki and Amakusa Region", which was registered as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site in 2018.

The adjacent former Luoten Seminary and former Nagasaki Archbishop's Palace are currently open as a Christian Museum. Materials related to Christianity in Nagasaki are on display, and you can see many historically important materials.


 
Busan Area
Nagasaki city center area (Peace Park, Mt. Inasa, Glover Garden, etc.)
Categories
History/cultural assets world Heritage (I.e. Night view
travel theme
Nagasaki's royal road/standard Photogenic Touring world heritage sites Enjoy the scenery and night view Recommended for spring Recommended for summer Recommended for autumn Recommended for winter

Let's find out more! Oura Cathedral

  • Two statues of Mary associated with the discovery of believers-0

    Monument commemorating the discovery of believers

    Two statues of Mary associated with the discovery of believers

    On March 1th, about a month after the founding of Oura Cathedral, the Urakami believers who had been hiding for about 3 years disguised themselves as Buddhists but had deep faith in Christ came to visit the church. .

    Then, he approached Father Petitjean who was praying inside the cathedral.
    After whispering, "I'm a nerd, you're onaji."
    “Where is the statue of Santa Maria?” I asked.

    It is said that Father Petitjean was overjoyed and led them to the statue of Mary.

    This statue, which witnessed this unique event in the history of world religions, has since been called the ``Statue of Mary Discovering the Believers,'' and it is still displayed on the side altar on the right side as you face it.

    Also, the statue of Mary placed in the center of the entrance was a gift from France to commemorate the big news that was spread all over the world that there were many believers in Japan.

    Both statues of Mary convey the long and difficult history of Christianity in Nagasaki, and the splendor that has been passed down through the people's deep faith.

  • Two statues of Mary associated with the discovery of believers-1

    Statue of Our Lady of Japan

    Two statues of Mary associated with the discovery of believers

    On March 1th, about a month after the founding of Oura Cathedral, the Urakami believers who had been hiding for about 3 years disguised themselves as Buddhists but had deep faith in Christ came to visit the church. .

    Then, he approached Father Petitjean who was praying inside the cathedral.
    After whispering, "I'm a nerd, you're onaji."
    “Where is the statue of Santa Maria?” I asked.

    It is said that Father Petitjean was overjoyed and led them to the statue of Mary.

    This statue, which witnessed this unique event in the history of world religions, has since been called the ``Statue of Mary Discovering the Believers,'' and it is still displayed on the side altar on the right side as you face it.

    Also, the statue of Mary placed in the center of the entrance was a gift from France to commemorate the big news that was spread all over the world that there were many believers in Japan.

    Both statues of Mary convey the long and difficult history of Christianity in Nagasaki, and the splendor that has been passed down through the people's deep faith.

  • Daimon at the time of its founding-2

    The main gate that is believed to be from the time of its construction

    Daimon at the time of its founding

    As soon as you enter the hall, look back.

    The double doors on the inside were repaired during the restoration work in 14, but they are from the time the building was first built, and they were in the same location.

    The heavy door is an inconspicuous shadow due to the glow of light shining through the stained glass, but it is also the door that watched over the historic moment when the believers were discovered at Oura Cathedral.

  • The place where the meritorious Father Petitjean rests-3

    Father Petitjean's tombstone

    The resting place of Father Petitjean, a man of merit

    As you walk down the central aisle to the main altar, you will notice a wax stone tablet set into the wall on the right.

    This is actually the tombstone of the late Father Petitjean, who built Oura Cathedral, discovered the descendants of the old Christians in this church, and revived the Japanese Catholic Church.

    Although it is not well known, Father Petitjean's body is placed in the basement, directly below the altar.

    When you visit Oura Cathedral, be sure to pray for Father Petitjean, who witnessed a miracle in the history of world religions, the discovery of believers in Nagasaki.

  • Another building you can't miss is Old Luodian Seminary-4

    Nationally designated important cultural property: Former Luoten Seminary/The inside of the building is used as a Christian museum.

    Another building you can’t miss is the Old Luodian Seminary

    The three-story wooden building to the right of the cathedral is the former Luodian Seminary, which was established by Father Petitjean in response to the abolition of the ban on Christianity for the purpose of training Japanese clergy.

    It was designed and constructed by Father de Rotz, who was the chief priest of the Sotome region of Nagasaki City, which is known as a Christian village, and is a simple and practical structure that incorporates plenty of Western architectural techniques.

    It has as much historical value as Oura Cathedral, and is the highest level of Western-style architecture in existence in Nagasaki.

    Currently, it is open to the public as the Oura Church Christian Museum.

    Materials related to Christianity owned by the Catholic Archdiocese of Nagasaki are on display, and you can see many historically important materials.

    [Oura Cathedral Christian Museum]
    https://christian-museum.jp/

  • Reasons why the word “Cathedral” was put up -5

    The reason why the word “Cathedral” was put up

    Even now, and even if you look at photos of Oura Cathedral at the time of its founding, you can still see the words ``Cathedral'' written in Japanese on the front.

    Oura Cathedral was originally a Catholic church built for foreigners living in foreign settlements, and when the First Oura Cathedral was built, there were no Japanese believers in the church as Christianity was prohibited.

    However, the reason why Japanese characters are posted is that the Holy See, which had a desire to re-proselytize Japan, established a new church dedicated to the 26 saints in the holy land of Nagasaki after the opening of the country, and resumed missionary work. , because they wanted to rediscover Japanese believers if possible.

    In other words, the Japanese character ``Cathedral'' was a message to the Japanese believers who might exist.

    And as if in response to that intention, the hidden Christians in Urakami were discovered.

Basic Information

Address 850-0931 Minamiyamatecho, Nagasaki City, Nagasaki Prefecture 5-3
Phone 095-823-2628
FAX 095-827-5452
Opening hours [Preview time]
Regular hours: 8:30-18:00 (Reception and last admission until 17:30)
Winter season (November 11st to the end of February) / 1:2 to 8:30 (Reception and last admission until 17:30)
Prices [Admission fee]
Adults 1,000 yen, junior high and high school students 400 yen, elementary school students 300 yen
(Persons with disabilities) 300 yen for adults, 200 yen for junior high and high school students, 150 yen for elementary school students
*Group discount available (20 people or more)
*The admission fee includes the admission fee for "Oura Cathedral Christian Museum."
Transportation access From Nagasaki Station, take the tram (bound for Sofukuji) for about 7 minutes, change at Shinchi Chinatown (bound for Ishibashi) for about 4 minutes, get off at Oura Cathedral and walk for about 5 minutes.
10 minutes by bus from the bus stop in front of Nagasaki Station South Exit, then 5 minutes on foot from the bus stop Glover Garden
world Heritage world Cultural Heritage
World heritage provisional registration date 39852
Cultural property National treasure
Link URL National Treasure Oura Cathedral
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