石室圣心大教堂座落于广州市中心区的一德中路，是天主教广州教区的主教座堂。于1863年6月18日圣心瞻礼日奠基。1888年（即清光绪14年）建成。总面积为2754.15平方米，东西宽35米，南北长78.69米，由地面到塔尖高58.5米。全部墙壁柱子均用花岗岩砌造，规模宏伟，以“歌德式”建筑艺术风格闻名中外；高耸的塔楼、巨型的柱束、屋顶的尖拱以及花式窗棂最具特色，是广州市珠江河畔著名的古建筑。

　　天主教广州教区主教座堂，因奉耶稣圣心为主保，故命名为耶稣圣心堂，也因教堂全部墙壁、柱子是用花岗岩石砌成，故又称“石室”。它是宗教文化与建筑艺术完美结合的典型，也是中西文化合璧的代表。

　　二次鸦片战争后，法国巴黎外方传教会来广州传教，当时的监牧主教明稽章看中了这块地方（两广总督府旧址）。1861年1月25日，由清政府恭亲王奕祈与法国政府签署协议，确认广州圣心大教堂的建立。咸丰帝也下诏，批准在此废墟上建立圣心大教堂的协议，文中说：“从现在起，战争必须永远停止，必须永远真诚地保卫和平！”，可见广州圣心大教堂也就成了和平的象征。当时明主教将分别从耶路撒冷和罗马带来的泥土各1000克置于基下，表达天主教创立于东方的耶路撒冷，是“根”，兴盛于西方的罗马。故在教堂正面东西两侧墙柱基上分别刻有“Jerusalem 1863”和“Roma 1863”以示纪念。

　　改革开放后，人民政府贯彻宗教信仰自由政策，并把石室列为国家重点文物保护单位，经过2002—2006年的维修，保持原有风格。内外环境庄严肃穆、清静、幽雅，使中外教徒能在这里进行正常的宗教活动。古老的石室教堂又焕发了青春。

*以上资料由广州市天主教提供

The Cathedral of the Sacred Heart Guangzhou

The church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus is located on Yi de Road in the center of Guangzhou. It is a bishop cathedral of Guangzhou rectory. It is also named Sacred Heart of Jesus Cathedral as its foundation was laid on 18th of June in 1863, the Feast of Sacred Heart of Jesus, and its structure was finished in 1888, or in the 14th year of Guangxu of Qing Dynasty. Its architectural area is about 2754.15㎡,the width from west to east is 35m,the length from north to south is 78.69m and 58.5m high from the ground to the top of the tower. It is a magnificent building. All the walls and columns here are made of granite. It is well known for its Gothic architectural artistic style both at home and abroad: the high towers, clusters of big columns, pointed arches and flowered window lattices are the characteristic of the cathedral, and it is a famous ancient structure by the side of the Zhujiang River in Guangzhou.

The church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus is the Cathedral of Guangzhou diocese. Since the building is entirely made of granite, it has been called “The Stone House”. It perfectly integrates religious culture and architectural art, and it represents the combination of Chinese and Western cultures. After the Second Opium War, the Paris Foreign Mission Society came to Guangzhou and the apostolic vicar Zephirin Guillemin discovered this place. On January 25th 1861, the Qing government signed an agreement with French authorities establishing the Cathedral of Guangzhou. In his decree of approval, emperor Xianfeng wrote: “From now on, war should be stopped for ever and we should sincerely keep peace for ever.” Therefore the cathedral became a symbol for peace. On August 26th 1863, work begun and the ground breaking ceremony was held on December 8th of the same year. That day Bishop Guillemin combined earth brought from Jerusalem and Rome as foundation. This is why there are inscriptions on both sides of the church: “Jerusalem 1863” and “Roma 1863”.

After Reform and Open policy, the People’s Government carried out the policy of freedom to believe in religion, “The stone house” was classified as one of the key historical relics protected by the national government, by this time repaired the cathedral in order to keep its original style. The environment of the cathedral from inside to outside is solemn and respectful, quiet and tasteful. Both native and foreign Catholics here can be having a normal religious life in it. The old “Shi Shi” (stone house) cathedral radiates the vigorous of its youth again.

*Information provided by The Diocese of Guangzhou.