St. Paul Miki

Paul (or Paulo) Miki was born in Japan in the mid-sixteenth century. He came from a wealthy Japanese family and was educated by Jesuit priests. He too became a Jesuit and was a successful preacher with many converts. At that time the ruler of Japan, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, began persecuting Catholics. Paul Miki was imprisoned, along with several others. They were then forced to march 600 miles from Kyoto to Nagasaki. While marching they sang the Te Deum. On arrival in Nagasaki, Paul and the others were crucified in 1597. St. Paul Miki preached his last sermon from the cross, forgiving his executioners and saying that he too was Japanese. The twenty-six Martyrs of Japan (including Paul Miki) were canonized in 1862. Their feast day is February 6th. St. Paul Miki is the patron saint of Japan. If you would like a stained glass window in your church of the Japanese St. Paul Miki, we will gladly discuss any design of your choice. Please contact us for more information on our full range of stained glass products.