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Ruins of St. Paul's in Macau are marvelous sample of the Catholic history of this
former Portuguese colony. The greatest among the churches in Macau, the Macau
St. Paul Cathedral is illustrious for its architecture and religious importance.
Patronized by the colonial masters this prime spot on your Macau sightseeing tour
is undoubtedly the best example of the sundry culture of Macau.
Ruins of St. Paul's in Macau now contain only its magnificent stone facade
and grand staircase. Built in 1582, this greatest of churches in Macau was inaugurated
as an educational college. Macau St. Paul Cathedral built of wood, was vividly
adorned and furnished, according to early traveler chronicles. The Japanese
Christian exiles and local craftsmen add the facade of carved stone in 1620-27.
The ruined frontage is covered with carvings and figurines eloquently illustrating
the beginning days of the Church in Asia.
Ruins of St. Paul's in Macau houses various statues of the Virgin and saints,
cryptograms from Garden of Eden and the Crucifixion, seraph and the devil, a
Japanese chrysanthemum, a Chinese dragon, a Portuguese sailing ship and moral
warnings extolled in Chinese. Now the building has been turned in to a museum.
On your Macau sightseeing tour, you can visit the remains of the Church of the
Mother of God, the Crypt containing the relics of the Martyrs of Japan and Vietnam,
and the Sacred Art museum within the church complex.
Ruins of St. Paul's in Macau contain a structure of five tiers. The opening
tier is comprised of ten Ionic columns having three entrances. 'MATER DEI' is
carved on the middle entrance. The two side entrances are adorned with bas-reliefs
in the prototype of 'HIS'. The subsequent tier has ten Corinthian columns with
three windows. The figures of a Catholic saint are engraved on each tabernacle
between two columns. The enduring three tiers are the most ornamented. The effigy
of Madonna stands at the third tier, while the sculpture of Jesus stands on
the fourth. The walls are sheltered with bas-reliefs in assorted patterns like
angels, symbols of crucifixion, devils and a Portuguese sailing ship. The triangular
grouping of the upper three tiers replicates the Holy Trinity as well as the
sacred Virgin Mary.
Plan your Macau tour and take pleasure in the scenic spots in the isles of
Macau, China, Asia. Asiarooms offers online information on Macau travel. For
more information, explore relevant links on Macau travel on Asiarooms.
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