Traveling through time and space in Macau - St. Joseph's Seminary

St. Joseph's Seminary is a unique dome church in Macau, located in the historical area of ​​Macao. It was built in 1728 by Jesuits and is a very important landmark in the history of Catholicism in Macau. The monastery not only played an extremely important role in the spread of Catholicism, but also contributed to the development of education and science and technology in Macao. Many bilingual talents have been trained here, which has influenced the exchange of Chinese and Western cultures.

St. Joseph's Seminary is divided into a monastery building and a chapel, surrounded by walls and lush green gardens, giving people a sense of tranquility isolated from the outside world. The gate of the monastery faces Sam Po Tsai Street. Walking up 54 granite steps, you can enter this historic holy place. Although the monastery building is not open to the public, its simple design contrasts sharply with the ornate Baroque style of the sanctuary. The cathedral was built in 1746 and completed in 1758. It is the second largest church after the Ruins of St. Paul's, so the locals affectionately call it "Sanbazai".

When you enter the church, you will be shocked by its magnificent Baroque architectural style. There are three entrances on the front of the church, the most magnificent of which is the main entrance in the middle, which leads directly to the main hall. The layout of the main hall is in the shape of a Latin cross, 27 meters long and 16 meters wide, with a statue of St. Joseph enshrined on the altar. It is worth mentioning that the four gold-leaf-wrapped pillars next to the altar are the highlight of this sanctuary.

The dome of the church is very magnificent, with a diameter of 10 meters and a height of 19 meters. The Jesuit emblem on the top is particularly eye-catching. The main facade of the church is 24.6 meters wide, with symmetrical bell towers on both sides and a pediment in the center carved with the Jesuit emblem. Every detail reveals the unparalleled Baroque style.

Here, you can also see the relics of the Jesuit missionary St. Francis Xavier - his humerus, which is one of the precious relics of the Catholic Church.

St. Joseph's Seminary is located in the historical area of ​​Macao. Going here is like traveling back in time hundreds of years. Every building and every stone tablet tells the legend of this place. If you like humanities, history, art and architecture, or are just looking for a quiet sanctuary, you might as well take a walk here and immerse yourself in the baptism of time.

Address: St. Joseph's Seminary, Rua do Semper, Macau

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Post by 遇見好心情 | Apr 14, 2025