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Soulstay at the Quiet Hanti Retreat House()
· Area : Chilgok

Soustay at the Quiet Hanti Retreat House

 


After driving 30 minutes from Chilgok-gun, I arrived at Hanti Retreat House located in the forest of Palgongsan mountain hill. This is the place where Catholics hid from persecution, and graves of those who were persecuted lies. It is at the border of Bugye-myeon, Gunwi-gun below northern slide of Palgongsan mountain over Hanti hill.







The "This is Hanti Retreat House" signpost at the entrance greets visitors from the beginning. The road to Hanti, from Waegwan Gasil Catholic church to Hanti Martyrs' Site is divided into 5 sections; Section 1: Gasil Catholic church~Sinnamugol Holy Ground(10.5km), section 2: Sinnamugol Holy Ground~Changpyeongji(9.5km), section 3: Changpyeongji~Dongmyeong Catholic church(9.0km), section 4 : Dongmyeong Catholic church~Gasan Mountain Fortress (8.5km), section 5: Jinnammungate~Hanti Martyrs's Site/ Each section is named road of looking back, road of empty, road of regret, road of forgiveness, road of love. There are wood trails, forest trails and village trails in 46.5km to Hanti, so you can experience different feelings.

With a small signpost introducing the entrance of Martyrs' site, there is a large stone engraved with information. It explained the history of Hanti Martyrs' Site. It was originated from Catholics who came here to hide from persecution 200 years ago. Also there are 37 graves of those who were persecuted.



With a small signpost introducing the entrance of Martyrs' site, there is a large stone engraved with information. It explained the history of Hanti Martyrs' Site. It was originated from Catholics who came here to hide from persecution 200 years ago. Also there are 37 graves of those who were persecuted.







I was curious about how the Catholics lived in religious settlement. I walked on a beautiful forest trail to the end until I reached the main building. In front of the main building, I was able to see wide field and reeds field. the field was wide open.




Father Yeo Yeong Hwan, who manages this place said " I just want people to take a full rest here. You can rest here doing what you wanted to do, for example, reading books, sleeping, or walking around that you couldn't do in your busy life." and added people who visited here once tend to visit again.









We headed to Yeongseonggwan while chatting with the father. This was the place of learning of theology students, and is not closed. I was curious how they studied.




The place will be reconstructed soon to facilitate the place with accommodation for soul stay program. I was able to see and feel the atmosphere of old religious school before it was demolished.





From Yeongseonggwan, we headed to old public prosecution. It is the oldest one in Gyeongsang-do. When the persecuted Catholics were prisoned, the family and friends of prisoners stayed here as it was very close to Daegu Gamyeong(prison) and safe to stay and contact the prisoners. They are preparing to provide accommodation as a stray house pension after reconstruction. I wonder how it would look like after the construction.

















At the pilgrim church, they offer sunday mass, saturday mass, weekday mass, sponsor mass and pilgrim mass. The pilgrim mass is only for those who made reservation, and they run weekday mass with various programs.









There is wide lawn and outdoor altar on the hill. 1000 people can pray here. The surroundings make me feel as if I were at Alps. Then I headed to visit the pilgrim trail.








There are 37 graves of unnamed martyrs, and tombstones for the villagers of Hanti village. Reading the engraved words on stones, I thought about the religious people who were persecuted villagers of Hanti.





The hill seemed high and bored from far away, but the course was quiet gentle and took about 40minutes to finish the trail. The clean air and surrounding scene kept me excited during the walking.





Hanti Retreat House offers individual, family and group retreat. I definitely recommend you to take a rest during the weekend at here.
For further information contact at 054-975-5151 or visit http://hanti.org/.


 
Hanti Retreat House offers individual, family and group retreat. I definitely recommend you to take a rest during the weekend at here.

For further information contact at 054-975-5151 or visit http://hanti.org/.


 
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