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Paul Sawabe

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{{orthodoxyinjapan}}'''Paul (Pavel) Sawabe''' was the first Japanese student and [[catechumen ]] of St. [[Nicholas of Japan|Hieromonk Nicholas’]] after he had arrived in Hakodate, Japan in 1861. Paul was the first Japanese to embrace Orthodox Christianity and was an ardent disciple of the future St. [[Nicholas of Japan]] and was an active [[missionary]]. Through his efforts the Japanese mission drew many new Christians and in time he became the first Japanese to be [[ordination|ordained ]] to the [[priest]]hood.
[[Image:PavelSawabe.jpg|thumb|left|Fr. Paul Sawabe]]'''Takuma Sawabe ''' was born in 1833 in Kochi prefecture. His original name was Yamamoto Kazuma. He was a student, with a cousin, of the samurai art of Ken-do (Japanese swordsmanship) and philosophy. In 1857, while walking off some heavy drinking, Yamamoto ended up with two watches stolen by his cousin, but which he tried to sell. Thus, Yamamoto fled to Hakodate to escape the police who had identified him as having stolen the watches. In Hakodate, Yamamoto married the daughter of a Shinto priest named Sawabe. Yamamoto, thus, after marrying the priest’s priest's daughter, became an adopted son of the priest and changed his name. Under his new identity Takuma Sawabe did not participate in the Shinto priesthood, but led a group that reverenced the Emperor and demanded expulsion of the foreigners. The Russian Consulate in Hakodate became a target of their plan for assassinations.
One night in 1865, armed with a sword, he confronted the Hieromonk Nicholas with the intent of killing him before he did any preaching. In the exchange of words that followed, Nicholas questioned why Sawabe would kill him without hearing about what Nicholas would have to say. So, Sawabe asked Nicholas to tell him about his Christian religion. As the young [[missionary ]] talked, his words soften Sawabe’s softened Sawabe's heart, his interest increased, and he began to study the Christian doctrine. Soon, Sawabe was joined by a doctor friend, Sakai Tokurei, in a discussion group. They in turn were joined by two more friends, Urano and Suzuki, and so the group of catechumens grew. They themselves began teaching about Orthodox Christianity to other Japanese people. Yet at this time, the Japanese policy was still to persecute Christians and forbid [[conversion ]] to Christianity.Then in April 1868, with the Reader Bissarion Sartoff guarding the consulate office door, Nicholas baptized Sawabe, Sakai, and Urano with the baptismal names for Paul, John, and James respectively. They had become the first Japanese people to accept Orthodox Christianity. With their baptism Paul and his friends went on to preach their new religion more fervently.
As Then in April 1868, with the threat of imprisonment and perhaps even execution increased in [[Reader]] Bissarion Sartoff guarding the Hakodate areaconsulate office door, Hieromonk Nicholas sent Paul [[baptism|baptized]] Sawabe, Sakai, and his friends to travel else where in Japan to preach their new faith, but ultimately to gain greater safety Urano with the baptismal names for them. Not hearing from Paul for some months, Hieromonk Nicholas was very glad to receive news from Paul of his successes in SendaiJohn, in northern Honshuand James respectively. In time They had become the opposition first Japanese people to accept Orthodox Christianity subsided, . With their baptism Paul and the now Archimandrite Nicholas began to look to expanding his missionary work friends went on to Tokyopreach their new religion more fervently.
It was Paul Sawabe who Nicholas sent to Tokyo to review As the situation for missionary work threat of imprisonment and perhaps even execution increased in the Tokyo/Yokohoma Hakodate area , Hieromonk Nicholas sent Paul and advise him of the potential his friends to travel else where in Japan to preach their new faith, but ultimately to gain greater safety for such work therethem. Paul’s report was one of optimismNot hearing from Paul for some months, and Paul advised Hieromonk Nicholas was very glad to come to Tokyo as soon as possible. Soreceive news from Paul of his successes in Sendai, in late January 1871northern Honshu. In time the opposition to Christianity subsided, and the now [[Archimandrite ]] Nicholas arrived in Yokohoma and proceeded began to Tokyo look to set up expanding his headquartersmissionary work to Tokyo.
But, local opposition to Christianity It was still present. In February 1872, Paul Sawabe whom Nicholas sent to Tokyo to review the situation for missionary work in the Tokyo/Yokohoma area and many advise him of his co-workers in Christ were arrested by the local police in Sendaipotential for such work there. Yet the officials were amazed that even among the children their answers Paul's report was one of optimism, and Paul advised Nicholas to questioning showed a deep conviction come to their Christian beliefsTokyo as soon as possible. Even though many had not been baptized none changed their position but were strengthened So, in their faithlate January 1871, Archimandrite Nicholas arrived in Yokohoma and proceeded to Tokyo to set up his headquarters.
On [[July 12]], 1875, at the second General Council of the Japanese mission Archimandrite Nicholas decided that there Local opposition to Christianity was a need for native clergystill present. In February 1872, and named Paul Sawabe to be and many of his co-workers in Christ were arrested by the first priest, and local police in Sendai. The officials were amazed that John Sakai would be even among the children their answers to questioning showed a deacondeep conviction to their Christian beliefs. A month later Bishop Paul of East Siberia came to Hakodate for the first Sacraments of the Holy Orders Even though many had not been baptized none changed their position but were strengthened in Japan and ordained the new priest and deacontheir faith.
On [[July 12]], 1875, at the second General Council of the Japanese mission, Archimandrite Nicholas decided that there was a need for native clergy, and named Paul Sawabe continued to service his new faith as his church grew over be the following decadesfirst priest, and that John Sakai would be a [[deacon]]. He was A month later [[Bishop]] Paul of East Siberia came to survive his mentor Hakodate for the first [[sacraments]] of the [[Holy Orders]] in Japan and bishop by a year, dying in 1913, ordained the new priest and deacon.
Paul Sawabe continued to service his new faith as his church grew over the following decades. He was to survive his mentor and bishop by a year, dying in 1913. [[Category: Missionaries]][[Category:Priests]][[Category:Converts to Orthodox Christianity|Sawabe]]
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