Matthew Kia Yen-wen
Matthew Kia Yen-wen (賈彥文) was an important religious leader from China. He was born on January 17, 1925, and passed away on August 22, 2017. He served as a Bishop in different cities in Taiwan, including Hualien and Chiayi. Later, he became the Archbishop of Taipei, which is a very high position in the church. After retiring in 2015, he was known as the Archbishop Emeritus of Taipei until he died. He was born in a place called Yuenshi Hsien.
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Matthew Kia Yen-wen's Journey
Matthew Kia Yen-wen dedicated his life to serving the church. He held several important roles, helping to guide people in their faith across different parts of Taiwan.
Becoming a Priest
Matthew Kia Yen-wen became a priest on July 15, 1951. This special ceremony, called an ordination, took place in Tainan, a city in Taiwan. Becoming a priest means he was officially ready to lead religious services and help people.
Serving as a Bishop
Years later, Matthew Kia Yen-wen was chosen for an even bigger role. On May 21, 1970, he was appointed the very first Bishop of Chiayi. A Bishop is a senior leader in the church who oversees a specific area. He officially started this role on July 16, 1970.
Later, on December 14, 1974, he was appointed as the Bishop of Hualien. This meant he moved to lead the church community in a different part of Taiwan.
Becoming an Archbishop
Matthew Kia Yen-wen's leadership continued to be recognized. On November 18, 1978, he was appointed the Archbishop of Taipei. An Archbishop is a very high-ranking Bishop who leads a large and important area, often including several smaller church regions.
Later Years
After many years of service, Matthew Kia Yen-wen decided to retire from his role as Archbishop. He resigned on February 11, 1989. Even after retiring, he remained an important figure. From 2015 until his death, he was known as the Archbishop Emeritus of Taipei. He passed away in Taipei, Taiwan, on August 22, 2017, at the age of 92.
