St. Anthony's Church

St. Anthony's Church - The Church of Flowers

 

St. Anthony's Church is often referred to as Fa Vong Tong (Church of Flowers). In fact, St. Anthony was a "military" saint, a Captain in the Portuguese army and is revered as the Saint of Marriage by Catholics. Consequently, many wedding ceremonies are held in the church, which was constructed during the period of 1558 to 1560, and, with St. Lawrence's Church and the Cathedral, is one of the oldest churches in Macau.

In nearby Camoes Garden many residents take exercise every day, and it is here that the statue of Luís de Cam?es reposes, honouring the most famous Portuguese poet to live in Macau. Beside the garden lies the old Protestant Cemetery, where some of Macau's most famous residents are buried including George Chinnery, whose wonderful China Coast paintings hang in the Museum of Art. Robert Morrison, the Christian preacher who first interpreted the Bible into Chinese, also lies buried here.