St. Paul's archway is actually just the front wall of St. Paul's church after it was destroyed by fire a hundred years ago. "March 8th" is the Cantonese pronunciation of "Sao Paulo", which looks like China archway, hence the name "March 8th archway". Sabaoluo Church was built in 1580 (the eighth year of Wanli in the Ming Dynasty), was destroyed by fire twice in 1595 and160/year, and was rebuilt for the third time in 1602, which lasted more than 30 years and lasted1year.
1835, a fire reduced the whole church to ashes, leaving only the granite front wall and 68 stone steps in front of the door. After three fires, the church thought it was providence, so it abandoned it and did not build it, leaving the city wall standing. 90% of Macau's population comes from China. According to their own custom, they called it the "Big March 8th Archway", which endowed China with the color of culture and showed the characteristics of Macao's blending of Chinese and Western cultures.
St Paul's Church, the front wall of St Paul's Church 360 years ago, retains a very typical European Renaissance Baroque style. On the solid granite base, it is divided into five floors from bottom to top: the first floor is the entrance floor with three doors, and 65,438+00 Ionian columns support and decorate the walls. There is a relief pattern of the Jesuit emblem on the lintel of the small door, and "MATER DEI" is written on the main door, indicating that this church is dedicated to the Virgin Mary.
The second floor consists of 10 pilaster and three windows decorated with seven embossed roses. The Latin word "Madonna" is engraved in the middle. Palm trees are decorated between the window and the pilaster, and four statues of Catholic saints are enshrined in the niches on the left and right sides.
A bronze statue of the Virgin Mary is enshrined in a deep arched niche in the center of the third floor, surrounded by peony and chrysanthemum symbolized by China and Japan. There are three angel reliefs on each side, three pilasters on the left have bas-reliefs of the tree of wisdom and seven pterosaurs, and three pilasters on the right have bas-reliefs of Lingquan and western-style sailboats.
In the middle of the fourth floor, there is a statue of the infant, and in the middle of the four pilasters on the left and right, there is a relief of Jesus' instruments of torture; In the middle of the triangle top is a bronze dove, representing the Holy Spirit, with the sun, moon and stars on both sides, symbolizing the moment when the Virgin is pregnant. There is a cross at the top.
The impressive frame and the equally solemn ochre color of the St. Paul archway are the most nostalgic vicissitudes. Some people say that the bus is like a rubbings of history, standing abruptly and steeply, with its thin body against the 150 storm. Touching its granite stone carving is like touching the skin weathered by history. Some people even say that every time you stand in the bus, you will get some inspiration. It can be said that it is a historical scar with shocking flaws!
Although the Sao Paulo bus did not involve particularly significant historical events, it is undeniable that it has become a symbol of the integration of Chinese and Western cultures in Macao, representing tolerance and respect for multiculturalism. The Ascension Church Ruins Museum and the Catholic Art Museum behind the bus show the history of the spread of Catholicism in Macao and the glory of that year.
Below St. Paul's archway is a wide and long 68-step stone staircase. Every time tourists come to the bus, whether from bottom to top or from top to bottom, they have to go back and forth on the steps repeatedly, pay close attention to the bus from different angles, appreciate its grandeur and taste its historical vicissitudes.
For Macao people who have lived here for generations, the wide stone steps are also a good place for them to compete and play when they were young. On festive nights, it is also a place to hold performances such as "Lion Awakening" and "Drunk Dragon" to record every bit of life ... This is an important place for Macao people to have activities. Many important events, festivals and folk gatherings in Macao are held here.