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Odoric Mattiussi was born in the town of Pordenone in Friuli, Italy. He was born into a Czech family. Odoric became known as Odoric of Pordenone. When Odoric was just a young man, he became a Franscican missionary and joined the convent at Friuli/Udine. This is the beginnings of his journey.
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Odoric joined the Fransciscan missionary in 1280, and became a priest about 10 years later. Towards the 13th century, the Fransicans were ordered by the head pastor to do missionary work in Asia. His mission lasted about 35 amazing years. The Fransicans adhere to the teachings and spiritual disciplines of Saint Francis of Assisi. These people usually follow the Roman Cathoolic Church.
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Odoric was one of the first people from his birth town of Fruiuli, Italy to get sent on a mission from John of Monte Corvino who was the creator of the Christian mission is China. He was accompanied by an irishman named James of Ireland for most of his journeys.
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Odoric left Venice, Italy and went to the Greek trading center of Trebizonda located on the north coast of Asia Minor. The Empire of Trebizond was part of the successor states of the Byzantine Empire.
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Odoric leaves the Asia Minor to live in Tabriz, Persia. Tabriz is one of Iran's historical capitals. He traveled through the Shiraz and Baghdad regions.
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Odoric embarked with Friar James at the Persian in Ormuz and sailed to the south coast of India. He then travelled to Sumatra, Java, Borneo and to Indochina and on to Canton in south China.
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Odoric was called to follow John Piano Carpini, William Rubruquis, and John of Montecorvino. They started from Padua, crossed the Black Sea to Trebizond, went through Persia by way of the Tauris.
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As he leaves western India, Odoric begins another missionary journey to China for three years. He sailed in a ship called a Junk. Junks are an ancient sailing ship design from China that is still in use today. Junks may have developed from very early bamboo rafts which had a high stern.
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While travelling at sea, Odoric's ship was capsized by a typhoon, but later landed in Bolinao, Pangasinan in the Philippines.
He also held a mass in the Phillipines at this time. -
Towards the middle of the thirteenth century the Franciscans were commissioned by the Holy See to undertake missionary work in the interior of Asia. He traveled overland to the port city of Amoy and then to Beijing (or Khanbaligh). He arrived there and preached for three years. During his time preaching in China, he traveled widely. For a period of time he lived with a Christian convert by whom he was shown the city. He even got to see the Great Wall.
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In China he went to Nanking, Yangchufu, and finally travelled by the great canal and the Hwangho River to Khan-balig or Peking, the capital of the Great Khan.
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After spending 16 years on sea travelling, Odoric ended his missionary journey and traveled back to Italy.
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Odoric of Pordenone was ill in the Italian city, Pisa but died in the capital of his native province, Udine.
