Marian devotion
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The parish of Gapyeong, on the north-eastern end of Gyeonggi province, is placed under the patronage of Holy Mary, Mother of God. This title is not limited to exalting Mary: it protects the Christian confession that Jesus Christ is true God and true man.
Advocation: Holy Mary, Mother of God.
Korean name: The Holy Spirit.
Name of the temple: The Catholic Church of Gapyeong.
Place: 9 Seetho-ro 191beon gil, Gapyong-eup, Gyeonggi.
Parish Foundation: September 1957; the official source does not indicate the day.
Pastoral region: Chuncheon Sur.
Jurisdiction: Catholic diocese of Chuncheon.
Coordinates checked: 37.8315398, 127.5087434.
A parish founded in 1957
The directory of the Korean Episcopal Conference places the foundation of Gapyeong in September 1957. It does not provide a specific day, so this page deliberately retains the monthly accuracy of the source.
The parish belongs to the pastoral region of Chuncheon Sur. Although it is administratively located in Gyeonggi, it is part of the diocese of Chuncheon, whose ecclesial organization does not necessarily coincide with civil borders.
The title
The Korean expression means "Holy Mother of God" and corresponds to the Greek title Theotokos"the one who gave birth to God." The Church uses it to confess the identity of Jesus, not to claim that Mary is the origin of divinity.
Mary is the Mother of God because the Son who conceived and gave birth is a single divine person who assumed true human nature.
The confession of Ephesus
The Council of Ephesus, held in 431, confirmed the title Theotokos against interpretations that unduly separated humanity and the divinity of Christ.
Marian devotion is thus linked to the center of the Christian faith. Contemplating Mother leads to the recognition of the true God and true man Son.
The Solemnity of January 1
The Roman calendar celebrates St. Mary, Mother of God, on January 1, on Christmas 8th. Paul VI explained that this solemnity contemplates the role of Mary in the mystery of salvation and worships the Prince of Peace.
The date unites motherhood, incarnation and prayer for peace. It is not known in the consulted source if the parish also uses another local date for its patronal celebration.
Mary and the true humanity of Christ
The title recalls that the Son of God entered history through a royal gestation, birth and family. Salvation does not occur outside the body or human relations.
This invites the community to protect the dignity of vulnerable mothers, children, families and persons, without turning a doctrinal truth into a formula that is disconnected from life.
A parish north of Gyeonggi
Gapyeong is located in a mountainous region crossed by rivers and communications between Gyeonggi and Gangwon. The parish offers a stable presence within that territory.
The map marks the parish seat. The Christian community, however, includes those who move from different parts of the county and those who participate temporarily in an area also visited by travellers.
Mother of God and Mother of believers
Divine motherhood is unique and unrepeatable. From the cross, tradition also includes a spiritual motherhood of Mary to the disciples, always dependent on Christ.
Invoking it in Gapyeong means asking for help in receiving the Son with faith and living as a fraternal community.
Verified location
The Episcopal Conference publishes 9 Seokbong-ro 191beon-gil, Gapyeong-eup. The search for the Korean name of the temple returns 37.8315398, 127.5087434.
The coordinate coincides with the official direction and points to the parish complex, not the generic center of the county.
To visit and pray
Gapyeong is an active parish. The current hours in the diocese should be consulted and the celebrations respected. The available historical information does not allow the current building to be attributed the date of 1957 without another architectural source.
The visit can be accompanied by Luke 1, 26-38 and a prayer for peace, mothers, children and families.
Prayer to St. Mary, Mother of God, from Gapyeong
Holy Mary, Mother of God, keeps the parish of Gapyeong. Teach us to receive Jesus Christ, true God and true man, with the faith and availability of your heart. It protects mothers, children and families; it accompanies those who walk these roads and makes our community a home of peace, truth and service. Amen.
Sources consulted
- Korean Episcopal Conference: foundation, patronage, region, diocese and leadership.
- Diocese of Chuncheon: jurisdiction and pastoral information in force.
- Cartography: identification and temple coordinates.
- Catechism of the Catholic Church: divine motherhood and Council of Ephesus.
- Pablo VI, Marialis cultus: Solemnity of St. Mary, Mother of God.
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