Buddhist and Christian leaders attend a Christmas tree lighting ceremony at Jogyesa Temple in Seoul on Dec. 18. Photo by Asia Today
Dec. 18 (Asia Today) — South Korea’s largest Buddhist order held a Christmas tree lighting ceremony Thursday at Jogyesa Temple in central Seoul, bringing together religious leaders from multiple faiths in an annual event organizers described as a symbol of interfaith harmony and peace.
The ceremony took place at Jogyesa, the head temple of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, in Seoul’s Jongno district.
Venerable Jinwoo, the Jogye Order’s chief administrator, delivered a Christmas message at the event, saying, “We sincerely celebrate the birth of the baby Jesus, who came to illuminate this dark world.”
“Though we walk different paths, we share the same heart to alleviate human suffering and bring light to the world,” he said, adding that participants were renewing a commitment to “unity in diversity.”
Jinwoo said interfaith harmony is a powerful social force for reducing conflict and building peace and urged religious communities to work together toward mutual prosperity.
Among those attending were Jinwoo, Jogyesa abbot Venerable Damhwa and other Jogye Order monks, along with Choi Jong-soo, president of the Korean Conference of Religious Leaders for Peace, and leaders representing Cheondogyo, Catholic, Won Buddhist and Protestant organizations, according to organizers.
– Reported by Asia Today; translated by UPI
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