St. Nicholas of Japan and the Samurai
Fr. Symeon Kees
Yamamoto Kazuma was the son of a samurai and cousin of the samurai, Ryoma Sakamoto. After marrying the daughter of a Shinto priest, Yamamoto took the name of the priestly Sawabe family, according to custom. Takuma Sawabe became his new name. A fierce Japanese nationalist, he angrily confronted a Russian missionary Priest-monk named Father Nicholas. Takuma burned with anger against Fr. Nicholas because the Priest represented to him the kind of foreign influence within Japan that he hated and intended to help eradicate. Fr. Nicholas challenged his zealous accuser to hear the Orthodox doctrine he taught before making a judgment. After listening to the Priest and learning about the Orthodox Way, Takuma believed in Jesus Christ and was Baptized into the Holy Orthodox Church. He received the Christian name Paul. Later, Paul Sawabe was ordained an Orthodox Priest.
Today, we know Father Nicholas, who became an Archbishop during his ministry, as Saint Nicholas, Enlightener of Japan. St. Nicholas not only established the Church in Japan, but also ordained Cháng Yángjí, the first native Chinese Orthodox Priest, who became the Hieromartyr Mitrophan of Beijing. St. Mitrophan is venerated alongside the other Chinese New Martyrs of the Boxer Rebellion.
Copyright © 2019 by Fr. Symeon D. S. Kees
