On Feb 10, 1865, the
French Missioner Fr. Berivard Petitiean (later first
Bishop of Nagasaki) dedicated the Oura Cathedral a
month later on March 17, about 14 residents of
Urakami visited the church and approached Fr.
Petitiean, one whispered, "Our heart is one with
yours. Where is the statue of Santa-Maria?" Thus did
these people reveal the faith that they had treasured
and transmitted through 300 years of fierce
persecution, this declaration of faith by the
Japanese Christians, unexampled in all of history,
has now the acclaim of the entire world. The
profoundly moving moment of Discovery has been
recreated by a Christian artist of Nagasaki on this
relief, which commemorates the 100th anniversary of
the event. March 17, 1965