Santos Marcos Chong and Aleixo Se-yong

Saints Mark Chong and Aleixo Se-yong: two martyrs who became foundations of the Church in the East

The history of the Church is full of stories of martyrs, some of which are better known than others. Some names, such as São Sebastião and Santa Luzia, are common among Catholics. Other more recent ones, such as São Maximiliano Maria Kolbe, are also more popular. But this text brings the story of two holy martyrs, unknown to many Brazilians, who, alongside others, became true foundations of the Church in the East: Holy Martyrs Marcos Chong Ui-bae, catechist; and Aleixo U Se-yong, his catechizer.

Marcos Chong Ui-bae was born into a pagan family of local nobility, but was touched by the testimony of two martyred Catholic priests. Involved with charity and preaching the Gospel, he became a catechist. Because of their Christian faith, Marcos and Aleixo were insulted and scourged by their own relatives in Korea in 1866. This offering of life gave rise to the Christian faith in Korea.

Aleixo U Se-Yong was a young man sent by Bishop Saint Simeon Berneux to be catechized. Also coming from a wealthy family, Aleixo quickly accepted Mark's preaching of the Gospel and became a Christian, to the point of interceding so that 20 members of his family agreed to become Christians. The persecution of Christians continued in Korea, and Marcos was arrested. He offered the names of Christians who had already died, as a sign of his love for his brothers and his fidelity to Christ.

On March 11, 1866, Marcos and Aleixo walked together towards martyrdom, when they were beheaded by their own relatives. The two were beatified 102 years later, by Pope Paul VI, and canonized on May 6, 1984, by Pope John Paul II, alongside 93 other Korean martyrs and 10 French priests. In 2014, Pope Francis beatified another 124 Koreans, victims of martyrdom.

The Holy Martyrs Marcos Chong Ui-bae and Aleixo U Se-Yong became true foundations of the Church in the East. Their testimonies of faith and love for Christ are examples for all Catholics, even those most unknown. His martyrdom brought light to the Church in Korea and estimates are that around 10,000 Korean Catholics were martyred in the first century of the Church's life in that country, with many of them, because of their faith, becoming saints.