Ruins of St. Paul's

The Ruins of St. Paul are Macau's landmarks and in 2005 as part of the historic center of Macao was added to the UNESCO World Heritage with.

Origins

The Jesuits came to Macao in 1565 and began to spread Christianity soon from here. They formed in 1594, the first Western University of the Far East to train with programs such as theology, Chinese, Portuguese, Latin, mathematics and astronomy, thousands of missionaries for mission programs to China and Japan. Here learned, among other things, the missionaries Adam Schall von Bell and Matteo Ricci, the Chinese language before they went to the imperial court in Beijing. From 1602 to 1640, the St. Paul's Church by Chinese and Japanese craftsmen built on the University estate.

Fire

After 1762, the Jesuits, the property was back coated leave and handed over to the Leal Senado ( Loyal Senate ). A few decades later drew up a Militärbatallion. In the kitchen Barack broke in 1835 from a fire and covered the whole complex. Except for the front wall with the facade everything was burnt down.

The ruins were finally restored in 1990-1995. In the rear area is now home to a crypt with relics of Japanese and Chinese martyrs and a museum with pictures and sculptures from other churches and monasteries.

Facade

The facade was completed in 1620-1627 by the Italian plasterer Carlo Spinola. It is divided into five levels. The facade is adorned with elements and figures of Western Catholicism and partly also with oriental ornaments. In the bottom row the motto of the Society of Jesus (IHS ) is outside each written down and in the middle of the name of the patron saint of the University ( Mater Dei ). A number also represented the four Jesuit saints (Francisco de Borja, Ignatius of Loyola, Francis Xavier, and Aloysius Gonzaga ). In the symbolic higher ranks of the Virgin Mary and the Trinity ( God the Father, Jesus Christ, Holy Spirit ) are presented.