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The Maltese are among the oldest Christian peoples in the world. St Paul, shipwrecked as a captive on
route to Rome in A.D. 60, brought Christianity to Malta and the island was
home to the early defenders of Christendom, the Knights
of St John The Maltese Islands are rich in religious history.
Today, the life of the Islands is greatly influenced by the religious
calendar. Malta is famed for its lively, summer festas in honour
of each parish’s patron saint.
There are some 365 churches on the Islands. Even the smallest village
can be home to the largest of parish churches. Each has its votive statues,
art and religious treasures.
Some of the important churches include;
St. John’s Co. Cathedral,
Valletta
St. John’s Co-Cathedral, formerly the
Conventual Church of the Order of St. John is historically and artistically one
of the most historical monuments on the island. It was built between 1573 and
1577 to the design of Girolamo Cassar (1520-1586), chief engineer of the Order.
The "Beheading of St. John", Caravaggio’s masterpiece, hangs on the Oratory.
St. Paul Shipwreck Church,
Valletta
Built to commemorate St. Paul’s
Shipwreck on the island, the church contains impressive vault paintings by
Attilio Palombi which portray episodes in the life of St. Paul. There is also a
magnificent wooden statue of the apostle and two very important relireligiousics
– a wrist bone of St. Paul and a piece of the column on which he was beheaded.
St. Lawrence Church, Vittoriosa
Originally one of the earliest medieval
parishes. It served as the conventual Church of the knights prior to St. John’s
Co-Cathedral, The present church is a fine Roman Baroque structure, with a very
precious inner design with red marble, important paintings including one by
Matti Preti in the chancel. The area in front of the church served as a
graveyard during the Seige of 1565.
St. Paul’s Cathedral, Mdina
The Xl Century Siculo-Norman Cathedral
was destroyed by an earthquake in 1693. The present Cathedral was built by
Lorenzo Gafa four years later and is believed to stand on the site originally
occupied by the house of Publius, the Roman Governor at the time of St. Paul’s
stay on the Island (AD60), who eventually became the first Bishop of Malta.
Our Lady of Graces and Sanctuary
Museum, Zabbar
The sanctuary, an architectural gem, has
a long and varied history. It’s connection with St. John is evident by the
treasures showcased in the adjoining museum. On display is also a collection of
marine votive paintings, some dating from the 16th Century, a unique 17th
Century model of a galley belonging to the Order and lots more treasures.
Church of the
Assumption of Our Lady (Mosta Dome), Mosta
The parish church of Mosta was designed
by the Maltese architect Giorgio Grognet de Vasse, and the first stone was laid
in 1833. The church’s dome is the third largest in the world, exceeded in size
only by St. Peter’s in Rome and St. Sophia in Istanbul.
St. Paul’s Church and St. Paul’s
Grotto, Rabat
The original church of St. Paul was
built in 1572 and redesigned and enlarged in the 17th century. The alter
painting is by Mattia Pretti. Adjacent to St. Paul’s church one can see St.
Paul’s Grotto. According to a strong tradition, the Apostle Paul found shelter
in this grotto after he was shipwrecked on these islands in AD60. The grotto
contains pieces of sacred art and frescoes of considerable value.
San Pawl Milqi, Burmarrad
This church, built in the 17th century,
has been recently restored and is now open as a museum. In 1964, an Italian
Archaeological Mission excavating at San Pawl Milqi, both around and inside the
chapel, uncovered an extensive complex comprising a country villa dating from
roman times, oil and wine presses, and many farm laborers. Considering the
extensiveness of the farm-cum-villa, it is possible that this is where the
Apostle St. Paul and his fellow survivors of the shipwreck in the year 60AD
spent their first three days on the island.
Sanctuary of the Nativity of Our
Lady of Mellieha, Mellieha
According to a very old tradition, the
highly venerated sanctuary of the Nativity of our Lady of Mellieha was blessed
by St. Paul the Apostle. The same tradition would have it that the icon of Our
Lady painted on the rock is the work of St. Luke the Evangelist.
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About Malta
Introduction
Getting Around
Places to Visit
Valletta
The Three Cities
Mdina & Rabat
Gozo & Comino
Places of Interest
Historical Buildings & Gardens
Museums
Temple & Geological
Important Churches
Forts & Fortifications
Other Attractions
Shopping & Markets
Beaches & Bays
Nightlife & Theatre
Family Attractions
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