Paul (Pavel) Sawabe was the first Japanese student and catechumen of St. Nicolas of Japan after arriving Hakodate, Japan in 1861. Paul was the first Japanese to embrace Orthodox Christianity and was an ardent disciple of the future Saint Nicolas and he was an active missionary. Through his efforts, the Japanese mission has attracted many new Christians and one day he became the first Japanese to be ordained to the priesthood ...
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Takuma Sawabe was born in 1833 in Kochi Prefecture. His original name was Kazuma Yamamoto. He was a student with a cousin who practiced the art of samurai Ken-do (Japanese Sword) and philosophy. In 1857, out of a drinking alcohol, Yamamoto found himself with two watches stolen by his cousin, he tried to sell. Yamamoto fled to Hakodate to escape the police who identified him as having stolen the watches. At Hakodate, Yamamoto married the daughter of a Shinto priest named Sawabe. Yamamoto, after marrying the daughter of the priest, became the adopted son of the priest and changed his name. Under his new identity Takuma Sawabe did not participate in the Shinto priesthood, but he led a group who revered the emperor and demanded the expulsion of foreigners. The Russian Consulate in Hakodate became a target of their assassination plan.
One night in 1865, armed with a sword, he faced Hieromonk Nicolas with intent to kill him before he began his preaching. In the exchange of words that followed, Nicholas asked Sawabe why kill him without hearing that Nicolas would have to say. So Nicholas asked Sawabe him talk about his Christian faith. As the young missionary spoke, his words softened the heart of Sawabe, his interest grew and he began to study Christian doctrine. Soon, Sawabe was joined in a group discussion with a doctor friend, Sakai Tokurei. In turn, they were joined by two more friends, Urano and Suzuki, and thus increase the group of catechumens. They began to teach orthodox Christianity to other Japanese. Yet at that time, Japanese politics étaitpersécutait still Christians, and forbade conversion to Christianity.
Then, in April 1868 with the Player Sartoff Bissarion keeping the office door of the consulate, Nicholas named Sawabe, Urano and Sakai with the Christian name of Paul, John, and Jacques, respectively. They became the first Japanese to accept Orthodox Christianity. After their baptism, Paul's friends went to preach the new religion more fervently.
As the threat of imprisonment and perhaps even increased enforcement in the area of Hakodate, Hieromonk Nicolas sent Paul and his friends travel elsewhere in Japan, to preach the new faith, but in fact that 'they are safer. Having not heard from Paul for a few months, Hieromonk Nicolas was very happy to hear from Paul on his success in Sendai in northern Honshu. Over time, opposition to Christianity subsided, and the then Archimandrite Nicolas began to consider expanding its missionary work in Tokyo.
This was Paul Sawabe that Nicholas sent to Tokyo to discuss the situation for missionary work in the region of Tokyo / Yokohama and to advise on the potential of such a work there. The report was optimistic Paul, and Paul advised Nicholas to come to Tokyo as soon as possible. Thus, at the end of January 1871, Archimandrite Nicolas arrived in Yokohama and headed for Tokyo to set up his headquarters.
Local opposition to Christianity was still present. In February 1872, Paul Sawabe and others in Christ were arrested by local police in Sendai. Officials were surprised that even among children, their responses to questions showed a deep belief in their Christian faith. Even though many had not been baptized, none changed his position, but they were strengthened in their faith.
The July 12, 1875, at the Second General Council of the Japanese mission, Archimandrite Nicolas decided that there was a need for native clergy, and he appointed Paul Sawabe as being the first priest, and Deacon John Sakai. A month later, Bishop Paul of East Siberia came to Hakodate to establish the first sacraments of holy orders in Japan and ordered the new priest and deacon.
Paul Sawabe continued to serve his new faith as his church grew over the following decades. He had survived his mentor and bishop one year, and die in 1913.
Version French Claude Lopez-Ginisty
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