6 churches with English services for foreigners in Seoul

Religion in Korea is characterized by a rise of Christianity, a revival of Buddhism, and despite decades of suppression, the survival of shamanism. Regardless of their differences, it is safe to say that each of these religions, as well as their respective places of worship, are beautiful in their own way.

However, are you foreigner and wondering that they have any churches with English services there? Do not worry, here is a list of churches with English-services to help you keep connecting with God while being in Korea.

Seoul Sung Rak Church

Seoul Sung Rak Church is a Baptist church that provides services on Sundays in Korean, English, French, Japanese, Chinese, Spanish and Russian. The church also organizes international chapel and Bible study at 2 pm. The church is located in Guro-gu, near Sindorim Station, Guro Station, or Dorimcheon Station.

Seoul International Catholic Church

Seoul International Catholic Church, also called St. Francis Catholic International Parish is located in Hannam-dong, next to the Italian embassy and near Hangangjin Station. The masses are officiated in several languages like English, French, Italian, German, Spanish and Korean.

Seoul Anglican Cathedral

The Seoul Anglican Cathedral is a beautiful cathedral, like one could see in Europe. It is located next to the British Embassy, near City Hall Station. Sunday Service with Holy Communion is held every Sunday in the Seoul Anglican Cathedral Crypt. The church can also be visited from Monday to Saturday.

Yeoksam Catholic Church

Photo: VisitSeoul

Yeoksam Catholic Church is located near Yeoksam Station in Gangnam.  Most services are offered in Korean, but they have a special mass on Sunday mornings for English speakers. The church also offers an English Bible study and confessions before and after the mass.

Onnuri Church

Onnuri Church is located near Seobinggo Station (Gyeongui Jungang line) in Yonsang-gu, Seoul. There is a second church in Yangjae, Seocho-gu, Seoul. The church offers worship services on Sundays in different languages, such as English, Korean, Chinese, Japanese, Mongol, Russian, Nepali, Arabian, Filipino, Khmer,  and Sinhala. Onnuri Church also has different services for adults, infants, children, and youth.

SaRang Church (New Harvest Ministry)

SaRang Church is a non-denominational church just near Seocho Station. The New Harvest Ministry is the English ministry of SaRang Church. The ministry offers several services, for adults as well as youth and children, such as mass, bible reading plan, discipleship training, and more. The services are held in Korean, English, Japanese, and Chinese.

Read more: 7 best summer desserts in Seoul, Korea

Source 10 Magazine

7 most stunning churches in Philippines

All around the Philippines, amazing centuries-old churches stand as silent witnesses to their town’s culture and history. Many of them have been declared national treasures, and therefore during Holy Week these places of worship will not only attract worshippers, but also visitors interested in the unique architecture and relics these churches have to offer.

Manila Cathedral

Formally known as the Kalakhang Katedral Basílika ng Maynilà, the Manila Cathedral is a Roman Catholic basilica dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary as Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception. It also serves as the See of the Archbishop of Manila. Originally established in 1571, the eighth and current rendition of the cathedral was completed in 1958. It was renovated and repaired for earthquake retrofitting and subsidence prevention in 2012, and re-opened to the public after a complete renovation in 2014.

Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish

Barasoain Church or Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in Malolos City, Bulacan is such a big part of Philippine history that it would be a shame not to visit it at least once in your lifetime. It was also dubbed the "Cradle of Democracy in the East" upon having been chosen as the site of the First Philippine Congress after the Spanish-American War.

Mt. Carmel Shrine

Mt. Carmel is the type of church you remember from childhood-quiet, intimate, and somewhat kitschy. The statue of Mary cradling Jesus as a child is the most prominent feature of the church’s façade and inside, four more sculptures of the blessed Virgin Mother beckon you to offer prayer. It has been around since 1975, witnessing countless marriages under its high ceilings.

Nuestra Señora de la Porteria Church

In the 1720s, Cagsawa, then a sitio of Albay, began to progress, but its 4,000 inhabitants still saw its location at the foot of Mayon Volcano as a threat to its livelihood. So they asked that their town and church be transferred to Daraga, a village farther south of Cagsawa. The structure atop a hill and overlooking the majestic Mayon was then consecrated in 1854 as Nuestra Señora de la Porteria Church. Now, Daraga Church is famous for its mixture of Renaissance Gothic and Mexican Baroque, according to historian Alicia M. L. Coseteng in her book Spanish Churches in the Philippines. It is the only surviving church in the country that has adapted the salomonica columns (the four spiral columns in its façade).

Santuario Del Sto Cristo Church

Originally constructed sometime between 1602 and 1604, the structure was damaged by a fire, and was restored in 1641. Another fire consumed the church in 1763, but the parish persevered. The current sanctuary has been standing proud since 1774. May they never feel the urge to paint over its beautiful stone façade, which transitions to a marble altar inside. The church has a strange trapezoidal arch, but the wooden panels make it easy on the eyes.

Miag-ao Church

Also known as the Santo Tomas de Villanueva Parish Church, Miag-ao Church was also called the Miag-ao Fortress Church as its two uneven bell towers served as a tactical location for the town’s defense against Muslim raids. It is one of the Baroque Churches of the Philippines declared by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, and contains the limestone image of the Birhen ng Barangay, traditional Filipino clothing recovered from the 1982 excavations, and the original late 1790s images of Saint Thomas of Villanova.

Church of the Angry Christ

St. Joseph the Worker Church was later known as Church of the Angry Christ because of its famous (and controversial) mural titled “The Last Judgment” by Filipino-American artist Alfonso Ossorio. There are also mosaics all over the structure, from its façade to the walls by the entrance, made by Belgian artist Ade de Bethune. The church itself was designed by Czech architect Antonín Raymond, who employed a modern design when it was built in 1949.

Read more: Great things to discover in Manila

Source Internet