Christian’Online Spirit Tact ‘Event … Corona’s First Christmas Scenery

On the 24th, one day before Christmas, in front of the Cathedral in Myeong-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul, a manger is depicted, along with a new coronavirus infection (Corona 19), medical personnel and patients. Yunhap news

In front of Myeongdong Cathedral in Jung-gu, Seoul at 2 pm on the 24th, the day before Christmas. Some believers and visitors gathered around the stable sculpture that symbolizes the place where the baby Jesus was born, but the area around the cathedral was generally quiet. It was different from the usual appearance of the crowds gathered before the events of Christmas Eve and Mass. My aunt (52), who visited the cathedral with her husband, said: “I am very sorry that Christmas Mass is not celebrated face to face due to the crown.” “I plan to go home after the candle dedication and stream it live on YouTube at night.”

The unprecedented spread of a new coronavirus infection (Corona 19) has also changed the landscape of the religious world celebrating Christmas. In accordance with the order prohibiting the meeting of quarantine authorities, most of the large-scale Christmas Eve events held by Protestants and Catholics each year were canceled or changed to non-presence. Masses and services celebrated on Christmas Day are also scheduled to take place via live online broadcasts, which is why the term ‘Young Tact Christmas’ appeared, which is analogous to ‘Untact’ (not face to face).

In the wake of the new coronavirus infection (Corona 19), the Catholic Church is holding a ‘2020 Myeongdong, Brighten Winter’ event to commemorate Christmas via live streaming on YouTube and radio. [천주교 서울대교구 제공]

According to the religious world, the Catholic Archdiocese of Seoul will convert all the Christmas masses that are celebrated in the Myeongdong Cathedral, the Catholic headquarters of the church on the 24th and 25th, into non-presence. Instead, the Mass will be broadcast live via Catholic Peace Broadcasting and YouTube channels. The ‘2020 Myeongdong, Light Winter’ event, prepared to mark Christmas, will also be held via live streaming on YouTube and radio. The Catholic Church plans to present the stories of believers who desire blessings by auctioning off Cardinal Soo-jung Yeom’s prized items through non-face event programs such as the ‘Blessings Call Center’.

Father Yu Hwan-min (Director of Culture and Public Relations of Seoul National Archdiocese) said: “Due to the crown, believers cannot participate in the liturgy and everyone is left alone, for example, they refrain from going out.” . We plan this program to share our joy ”. Father Yu added: “As Christmas means ‘God has become man and has come to our side’, I hope people feel that God is with us in each of our lives and in each time through this festival.” .

Yeouido Full Gospel Church, the largest Protestant church in the world, also conducts online worship services for the first time in history. Lee Young-hoon, Senior Pastor of Yeouido Full Gospel Church, said: “This Christmas, when the festive atmosphere disappeared due to the influence of Corona 19, the difficulties are great and the darkness is deep, but the meaning of the Christmas becomes clearer at times like this. ” It’s time to practice love. ”

To this end, Yoido Full Gospel Church elevated the meaning of Christmas by sharing events rather than canceling all eve events, such as the annual Christmas celebration concert. Various sharing events were held, including the delivery of 22,000 boxes of hope containing 100,000 won worth of daily necessities to underprivileged families at home and abroad, and the delivery of 1,250 bags of rice to the elderly living alone and multicultural families. .

The Korean Federation of Churches is conducting a ‘Campaign to share Christmas carols and gifts from Korean churches’ to beat Corona 19. [한국교회총연합 제공]

A new idea was also introduced in place of the existing Christmas festival. On the 14th, the Federation of the Korean Church, the largest coalition of Protestants, started the Face Sharing Campaign. “It is an intact situation that cannot be transmitted even if we want to transmit love, but in the love and peace of Jesus, we will have a spiritual Christmas where souls and souls meet.” “To comfort the neighbors who are tired of Corona 19 and to give hope. It is to share Christmas carols that anyone can listen to for free ”. Hankyoreh made Christmas carol videos with sound sources provided by the Seoul Symphony Orchestra and is distributing them through YouTube channels.

Meanwhile, there are many voices of concern over the spread of Corona 19 through religious activities before Christmas. The quarantine authorities issued an administrative order prohibiting the consumption of more than 5 people in all indoor and outdoor facilities in the metropolitan area, but religious facilities were excluded. Young-rae Son, head of the Strategic Planning Division of the Accident Control Headquarters at the time, in a regular briefing at the Disaster and Security Countermeasures Headquarters (company script), said: “To religious facilities, non-face-to-face worship is the beginning and there are no exceptions. Because there is, it allows up to 20 members of some church members in charge of the production and transmission of videos ”.

Reporter Garam Lee [email protected]