In 1597, St. Paul Miki and 25 companions were martyred by crucifixion in Nagasaki Japan. They were all converted to Christianity by St. Francis Xavier. The hill on which the crucifixions took place is called "the Holy Mountain". St. Paul Miki was a Japanese native and also a Jesuit, and he forgave his executioners while he was being crucified. They were beatified in 1627 and canonized in1862. Nagasaki became the center of Japanese Christianity. The Church survived for two centuries underground, passing on its teachings by word of mouth.