The Catholic Churches of Zhengzhou

Zhengzhou, Henan, China

Zhenghou, the capital of Henan, is located in the geographical heart of China. The province of Henan, the cradle of Chinese civilization, houses a Catholic community with centuries of history and a particularly rooted Marian devotion.

History of evangelization in Henan

The province of Henan was evangelized by the missionaries of the Congregation of the Divine Word (SVD) at the end of the 19th century. In 1882 the Apostolic Vicariate of Northern Henan was established, and in 1911 the Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Henan was established. The province, densely populated, offered a vast and challenging missionary field.

Henan's central position made it a crossroads for the spread of the Catholic faith. The missionaries established churches, schools and hospitals that became centres of evangelization.

The Virgin of the Yellow River

Henan is home to a unique Marian tradition: that of the "Virgin of the Yellow River" (-). According to local tradition, the Virgin Mary appeared to fishermen on the banks of the Yellow River during a great flood in the 19th century. The Virgin would have calmed the waters and saved the local Catholic community. Although this tradition has not been officially approved, devotion to the "Virgin of the Yellow River" is still alive among the faithful of Henan.

The churches of Zhengzhou

The main Catholic church in Zhengzhou was built in the early 20th century by the missionaries of the Divine Word. The building, of a modest neo-Gothic style, has served as the center of Catholic life in the city. The church houses an image of the Virgin of the Yellow River that is the object of popular devotion.

Persecution and survival

During the Cultural Revolution, Henan's churches were closed and desecrated. However, the clandestine Catholic community kept the faith alive, celebrating masses in private houses. After the religious opening of the 1980s, the churches were restored.

Henan today

At present, Henan has one of the largest Catholic communities in China. The churches of Zhengzhou celebrate regular masses and are centers of Marian devotion.