Yangju City Holds Ceremony for 1,000-Day Prayer to View True Relics of Hoamsa Temple's Three Buddhas and Two Patriarchs

Yang Soo-hyun, Mayor of Yangju City, is attending the 'Hoheamsa 3 Buddhas 2 Patriarchs' True Relics Thousand-Day Prayer Ceremony' on the 23rd.

Gyeonggi Province Yangju Mayor Kang Su-hyun attended the 'Bonghaeng Ceremony' of the thousand-day prayer that enhances the sacred relics and the joy of the 'Hoeamsa Three Buddhas Two Patriarchs' true relics,' which returned to its original home after more than 100 years, on the 23rd.

The 'Hoeamsa Buddha Relics' were forcibly taken during the Japanese colonial period and kept at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts in the United States. Through the relentless efforts of the government and the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, they were repatriated this year to Hoeamsa Temple of the Jogye Order located in the district.

The event was attended by about 500 people, including Mayor Kang Su-hyun, Jinwoo Sunim, the Chief Executive of the Jogye Order, and Hosan Sunim, the head monk of Bongseonsa Temple.

On this day, Mayor Kang expressed deep gratitude to the officials who worked hard to hold this meaningful event and said, "Starting with this personal encounter, I hope that the culture and spirit of Korean Buddhism will be more widely spread throughout our society."

He added, "I am deeply moved to enshrine the sacred true relics, the culmination of practice and enlightenment, at Yangju Hoeamsa, and I hope that Hoeamsa will establish itself as a place of solace and support not only for Buddhists but also for our citizens."

Meanwhile, the relics of Goryeo-era monks Naong (1320?1376), Jigong (??1363), and the Buddha's relics will be open to the public, including prayer participants, every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.