Oura Cathedral

 

The cathedral is one of the most significant Christian pilgrimage sites in Japan.

Established in 1865, this church is officially known as “Oura Cathedral, the

Church of the 26 Martyrs.” It was built by Father Bernard Petitjean, a French

priest from Fier, who had been dispatched by the Paris Foreign Missions Society

to offer prayers for the 26 saints martyred on Nishizaka Hill. For this reason,

the cathedral directly faces Nishizaka Hill. It was designated as a National

Treasure in 1933 in recognition of its historical value as Japan’s oldest

Gothic-style cathedral.

 

On March 17, 1865, a group of peasants from Urakami visited the church and

professed their secret faith to Father Petitjean, revealing that Christianity had

survived through centuries of intense persecution. The white marble statue of

the Holy Mother at the entrance was erected to commemorate this dramatic

discovery of the “Hidden Christians.