News
Jan - Mar 2014
www.vittoriosahistorica.org
Byzantine-style icon restored
Old Via Sagra to be recovered
16 January 1941 Chapter Hall victims remembered
New Vittoriosa-set novel
French occupation of Malta 1798 – 1799
Archbishop Michael Gonzi memory
Walled Towns seminar
Joy Gospel Singers concerts
Carnival at Vittoriosa
Processional statue of St Lawrence for restoration
Reliquary of St Lawrence’s blood to be brought to Gozo
Art in medieval Malta
Cardinal Prospero Grech OSA attended Gozo choir performance
Cardinal Prospero Grech OSA at San Lorenzo in Damaso
Fr Paul Chetcuti SJ on Radju Marija
Capuchins stop their spiritual support to hospitals
Memorial commemorating the Royal Navy departure
Vittoriosa up-market yacht marina
Pedestrian injured in traffic accident
Gozo maritime tragedy remembered
Youth ambassador for Vittoriosa
Malta memories of World War II
Gianni Vella paintings at the Annunciation Church
Raphael Bonnici Cali’ paintings of Malta
El Greco anniversary
Surnames derived from the toponym Malta
Bust of de Vallette St John’s Gate Museum, London
Madonna del Buon Viaggio painting at Cospicua parish church
Ex-voto paintings and artifacts
St Lawrence Band January-February 2014 newsletter
St. Dominic dramatisation
Vittoriosa’s Dominican convent
The Order’s foundry at Birgu
Stolen art treasures displayed in Italy
Valletta in the footsteps of Vittoriosa
St Joseph’s virtues
Fr. Guzi Mifsud OSA passed away
Fr Saviour Magro OSA passed away
Comm. James Gollcher passed away
Mr Edgar Spiteri Staines passed away
Vittoriosa youth nominated for Youth of the Year Award 2013
Sports is part of culture
Malta Film Commission
St Anthony the Abbot
Pope John Paul II’s canonisation
Sculptor Salvu Psaila remembered
Statue of Our Lady of Porto Salvu
Altar boys at St Lawrence Church
Vittoriosa featured in AirMalta inflight magazine
The majesty of Maltese church domes
Vittoriosa doctor serving in Gozo 400 years ago
Unruly knights condemned to Gozo prison
St Lawrence Band March-April 2014 newsletter
Library in a digitalised environment
Byzantine-style icon restored
The antique icon of the Sagra Famiglia, venerated in the Greek Chapel of Our Lady of Damascus within the Vittoriosa Parish Museum housed in St Joseph Oratory has been resorted. The restoration was undertaken by PrevArti Limited on the initiative of the Vittoriosa Historical & Cultural Society with state heritage support. The restored painting was prominently displayed for the first time on the main altar of St Lawrence Collegiate on New Year’s Day 2014. The painting was mentioned by art Prof. Mario Buhagiar in the Vittoriosa history Birgu – A Maltese Maritime City saying that the panel painting in his opinion “seems to be of Italian inspiration and execution with echoes of Sienese and Umbrian influence” and attributes it to the early 16th century.
Old Via Sagra to be recovered
The long-awaited project for the repair and reconditioning of the rare rosso perlato marble cladding of the pilasters in St Lawrence Collegiate nave that was started in 2013, almost a hundred years after the marble was affixed, is well under way. By the end of the year four of the eight pilasters were ready. In the process of the works, the inferior quality cream colour marble covering the side columns had to be dismantled, resulting in the removal of the bass relief white 1957 marble Way of the Cross, brought from Catania. It is the intention to transfer this modern set to the St Lawrence Cemetery Chapel and make way for the reinstallation in their original place of the old gilded wood-carved 19th century Via Sagra. The paintings of these are by Vittoriosa-born artist V. Buonomo. These have hitherto been hanging in the Crucifix Oratory but will now be given a new lease of life after thorough restoration by PrevArti Limited. The first station has been fully restored.
16 January 1941 Chapter Hall victims remembered
The direct hit on the St Lawrence Chapter Hall on that fateful afternoon which was meant to be a Luftwaffe attack on HMS Illustrious left 33 victims buried in the debris. The fallen of this tragedy and of other Vittoriosa war victims were commemorated in a solemn ceremony at the foot of the war memorial at St Lawrence Church. Prayers were led by the Archpriest and a speech delivered b Mr Paul Bezzina, followed by laying of a wreath.
New Vittoriosa-set novel
Mr Carmel Mallia, a versatile Maltese author, has published a new historical novel in Maltese entitled Biza’ u Kuragg. The scene for the plot is set at Vittoriosa during the war. The book launch took place at the Vittoriosa Local Council office at Auberge de France in the presence of the Vittoriosa mayor, Mr John Boxall. Mr Carmel Mallia is a member of the Esperanto Academy and he has translated to Maltese and published various famous literary works.
French occupation of Malta 1798 – 1799
The title of Thomas Zerafa’s first in a two-part article in The Sunday Times of Malta is Events that shock the Maltese islands in two short years. It is clear that the advent of Napoleon Bonaparte startled the Maltese from a 268 year slumber under the Order of St John, a cataclysmic event that changed the course of Maltese history and eventually steered Malta to nationhood. The story starts with Napoleon’s resolve to subjugate Egypt thereby cutting off England’s trade route to India. With Malta in the way, the lure for the Order’s riches could not prevent Napoleon from taking Malta. The abrupt surrender was helped in no small measure by the treachery of a number of French knights. There was also a number of pro-French Maltese, leading among them Censu Barbara who had earlier even confided with Napoleon. In the meantime England dispatched Nelson in the Mediterranean to watch the movement of the French fleet and safeguard the crown’s interests in Egypt. The Maltese managed to send a representation, along with the Order of St John, for the signing of the capitulation on Napoleon’s flagship L’Orient, happy for having included in it proviso for the safeguard of the church, their privileges, laws and property – a proviso that was within a short time flouted by the French occupiers. The French deceit became even more blatant when they started ransacking artistic silverware from churches. The pillage also reached St Lawrence church, which probably included a set of silver candlesticks that adorned the high altar during St Lawrence feast day, of which only the beautiful byzantine cross survived – probably having been hidden away from the sight of the French predators. To insult the religious sentiments of the people of the Vittoriosa, the French garrison organised a Maypole festival in Vittoriosa Square on St Lawrence Day 10 August 1798.
Archbishop Michael Gonzi memory
In one of his weekly commentaries in Lehen is-Sewwa, Mons. Charles G. Vella writing from Milan, while praising the recently published books, one about former Prime Minister Dr Lawrence Gonzi, and one about his wife, Kate Gonzi, expresses regret that so far no initiative has been taken to recall the memory and achievements for the Maltese church and for the nation by Dr Lawrence Gonzi’s uncle, Archbishop Michael Gonzi. An appeal is made for the compilation of an indepth study, based on archived documents, on this Vittoriosa-born personality. It should be recalled that in the past an excellent biography on Archbishop Gonzi was written by historian Michael Galea, drawing from first hand information derived from interviews conducted by him personally with Archbishop Gonzi. Archbishop Gonzi donated his golden pectoral cross to St Lawrence Church and it is proudly decked on the processional statue of St Lawrence on his feastday. The pectorial cross was given to Archbishop Gonzi in 1944 as a gift by the people of Vittoriosa upon his investiture a Archbishop.
Walled Towns seminar
A three-day seminar was held by the European Walled Towns association. The seminar was attended by numerous councillors, delegates and experts from different fortified towns in Europe who discussed the exchange of historical knowledge and research, possible joint projects and networking, and the promotion of heritage locations. The seminar included various presentations and site visits, including a tour of the Vittoriosa bastions and the regeneration projects at the Birgu waterfront. The main conference venue was at the refurbished historical Corradino Royal Naval Prisons. Among the seminar participants was Denis Darmanin, Committee member of the Vittoriosa Historical & Cultural Society.
Joy Gospel Singers concerts
The Joy Gospel Singers again selected St Lawrence Church for the execution of two memorable concerts, in both instances joined with the Bavarian choir Aichacher Liederchor. For the first occasion in January the special guest was H.E. the US Ambassador. The second occasion was in March, with various musical selections played having a Lenten theme.
Carnival at Vittoriosa
For this year’s Carnival, Heritage Malta treated its patrons to an original and unique event at the Inquisitors palace, Vittoriosa: the staging of Il-Qarcilla, a poetic 18th century farce in Maltese consisting of a parody of the traditional wedding ceremony filled with satirical innuendos and humour. It was discontinued about a hundred years ago. It has now been revived.
Processional statue of St Lawrence for restoration
Some time after the conclusion of last year’s feast of St Lawrence, the Vittoriosa Archpriest Rev. Can. Joe Cilia announced that the statue of St Lawrence was in need of restoration. After conducting the necessary arrangements, the statue was lifted from its niche and transported to the restorers, PrevArti Limited, who promised to complete and deliver the statue in time for the annual St Lawrence First Wednesday devotion in May 2014. So for the time being St Lawrence’s niche in the church remains vacant. It should be observed that the last time that an attempt was made to touch up the patronal statue was by the late art enthusiast Dr Joseph Saliba in the 1960s and subsequently by artist Chev. Raphael Bonnici Cali’ in 1972.
Reliquary of St Lawrence’s blood to be brought to Gozo
The parish of the Gozitan village of San Lawrenz announced that it had made arrangements for the famous reliquary containing the blood of St Lawrence was to be brought to their parish church from Amaseno, in the province of Frosinine, Italy, in July 2014 on the occasion of the celebration of the 150 th anniversary from the establishment of the Gozo Diocese. The blood liquefies miraculously on Saint Lawrence feast day, 10 August. Coincidentally, the parish priest of the village of San Lawrenz, Fr Ignatius Borg, who had been in office for the past seven years, has been moved to the village of Qala where he will serve as archpriest. The former vice parish priest, Fr Charles Sultana, has been appointed in his stead. An in-depth study on the St Lawrence blood reliquary at Amaseno which includes reference to scientific analysis verifying it authenticity was written by Padre Enrico Giannetta, the former Rector of the Amaseno church where the reliquary is venerated. The booklet was translated into Maltese and published by Lorenzo Zahra, Secretary of the Vittoriosa Historical & Cultural Society. The website of the Gozo parish www.sanlawrenz.org provides the parishioners with up-to-date information on local news.
Art in medieval Malta
The Mediterranean Artistic Context of Late Medieval Malta 1091 – 1530 is the title of a recently published volume by Midsea Books, authored by art critic and lecturer Charlene Vella. It covers the pre-Order of St John period and considers the artistic trail during the time following the Arab occupation: the Normans, the Angevins and the Aragonese. This epoch saw the birth of the renaissance style in Malta. Vittoriosa still boasts a few Sicolo-Norman buildings from this period while Fort St Anglo is still dominated by the Magisterial Palace, originally the residence of the Castellan. St Lawrence is featured in a mural at the 14th century country chapel at Hal Millieri. The old alterpiece at St Lawrence church before its replacement by the present Mattia Presti oeuvre consisted of a 14th century icon showing the enthroned St Lawrence. Unfortunately the original icon was destroyed during the war but a faithful replica still hangs at the St Lawrence Chapter Hall. At the Mdina Cathedral Museum there is a 1735 engraving by Pablo Paciaudi of a 13 th century missal cover with silver panels shows the effigy of St Lawrence together with that of the apostles and angels.
Cardinal Prospero Grech OSA attended Gozo choir performance
The Laudate Pueri Choir of Gozo was invited to sing during the Epiphany Mass presided by Pope Francis at St Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican, the first Maltese choir to enjoy such a privilege. The choir also gave a performance of sacred music at the Pontifical Parish Church of St Ann. It is in this church that the precious relic of St Lawrence’s Head is displayed for public veneration every year on St Lawrence feast day. Both choir events were attended by Vittoriosa Cardinal Prospero Grech.
Cardinal Prospero Grech OSA at San Lorenzo in Damaso
For the occasion of the feast of St Paul’s Shipwreck, Cardinal Prospero Grech celebrated Mass for the Maltese community in Rome at the Basilica of San Lorenzo in Damaso which is an old church whose original dates back to the 4th century and is situation within the Roman Chancellery building. In a separate initiative, in a message on the catholic news website Laikos run by the Malta Archdiocese, the Cardinal called for prayers for the intercession of Pope Francis on the occasion of the anniversary of his election as Pope.
Fr Paul Chetcuti SJ on Radju Marija
Radju Marija features a weekly programme on the work of Maltese missionaries and their experiences. One of the programmes was dedicated to Vittoriosa-born Fr Paul Chetcuti SJ. He related his first encounter with Mother Theresa when she visited Malta in 1976. Subsequently, he met her again in Calcutta.
Capuchins stop their spiritual support to hospitals
The Capuchins were coerced to stop providing spiritual directors to hospitals in Malta owing to the dwindling number of their community, a service they had been providing for the past 120 years. The Capuchin friary of Kalkara, which at the time formed part of the Vittoriosa parish, used to be a principal base for many years of the hospital chaplains. It must be stated that in recent years the Capuchins friars have set on a new social initiative within four homes, run by the NGO Fondazzjoni Suret il-Bniedem: it offers a temporary home for the homeless and assists in the rehabilitation of ex-prisoners and detainees. This is over and above their missionary responsibilities in Kenya where they run two dioceses.
Memorial commemorating the Royal Navy departure
According to Lino Bugeja, writing in The Times of Malta, the monument commemorating the departure of the last British contingent in 1979 should remain on the present site at Vittoriosa Wharf next to the National Maritime Museum. However, the revamped monument that is being proposed to replace the existing structure should be compatible with the aesthetic and historical ambience and fit contextually with the baroque facade of St Lawrence church overlook the area.
Vittoriosa up-market yacht marina
The Grand Harbour Marina at Vittoriosa, run by the world-known operators Camper & Nicholsons, now forms part of a new exclusive branding initiative called 1782 Club which offers privilege programmes for yacht owners, captains and crew in the luxury marina network administered by Campers & Nicholsons: in Cyprus, Abu Dhabi, Italy, Turkey, Grenada, and Malta.
Pedestrian injured in traffic accident
A 56-year old man from Zabbar was injured in Silver Jubilee Street, Vittoriosa when he was trapped between two cars.
Gozo maritime tragedy remembered
In the latest issue of Lehen il-Qala, Victor Galea writes about sea transport links between Malta and Gozo over the centuries. He also recalls various tragic episodes and in particular the sinking in stormy weather of a luzzu at Hondoq ir-Rummien in 1948 when 23 people lost their lives and 4 survived. The victims included people from all the villages of Gozo except from Ghasri and San Lawrenz. There was also a member of the MUSEUM society from Zurrieq who happened to be crossing to Gozo to delver Christian doctrine lessons.
Youth ambassador for Vittoriosa
In an initiative taken by the Vittoriosa Local Council, a 16-year old Secondary School student, Leanne Attard, from Vittoriosa, was nominated as Youth Ambassador for Vittoriosa. Her role will be to bring forward ideas and proposals relating to young people at Vittoriosa. The signing of the acceptance took place at the Presidential Palace in Valletta in the presence of the Parliamentary Secretary Hon. Dr. Hose’ Herrera and Vittoriosa Local Councillor Mr Anton Gellel.
Malta memories of World War II
Lawrence Mizzi from Vittoriosa is the author of numerous informative books in Maltese and English about Malta in World War II. He has recently published a new book in Maltese Dizzjunarju ta’ Malta fil-Gwerra, presenting a useful compendium of information in dictionary form. The entries include not just terms directly relating to the war, like Air Raid, Victory Kitchen, Deportazzjoni, etc, but also about social life at the time, like Zwigijiet Imhallta, Sptarijiet. The book also includes entries on leading war personalities: Governor William Dobbie, Mussolini, Churchill, Bishop Gonzi.
Gianni Vella paintings at the Annunciation Church
One of the advertisements in Treasures of Malta, no. 56 is by Belgarvia Auction Gallery. It is a reproduction of the preparatory paintings of two canvases by Gianni Vella (1885-1977) showing respectively, St Dominic Crowing by Jesus and Mary with Angles, and St Vincent Ferreri blessing Children. The paintings are of the two side altars at the Dominican Church of the Annunciation, Vittoriosa. The advert reports the sale of the two bozzi for € 5,800. It is a pity that these two beautiful bozzi are no longer in the possession of the Vittoriosa Dominican community.
Raphael Bonnici Cali’ paintings of Malta
The Albert Ganado Art Collection includes two original oil paintings by Raphael Bonnici Cali’ (1907-2002), reproduced in Treasures of Malta, no. 56. One shows the authentic view of the garden behind the Auberge de Provence, Valletta, as seen by the artist in 1969 but regretfully replaced by buildings in 1975; the other painting shows the bombing at night of Luqa Airport in 1942. Raphael Bonnici Cali’ had strong connections with Vittoriosa as he was entrusted with the restoration after the war of the Giuseppe Cali’ and the Ignazio Cortis paintings on the vaulted ceiling of St Lawrence Churuch. He was a long-time Committee member of the Vittoriosa Historical & Cultural Society.
El Greco anniversary
Toledo in Spain is celebrating its famous painter, El Greco (1577-1614), with magnificent exhibitions and concerts. He was a prolific painter whose repertoire includes religious themes. He was patronised by King Philip II at the Spanish court in the palace of El Escorial, in Madrid, build in the shape of a grid-iron and dedicated to St Lawrence. El Greco painted St Lawrence in a singular painting depicting the Apparition of the Blessed Virgin of St Lawrence, which is found at the Art Museum at Montforte de Lemos, in Galicia, Spain.
Surnames derived from the toponym Malta
Linguist and historian Mario Cassar is features in a researched article in Treasures of Malta, no 56 about surnames relating to the appellation Malta and its derivatives. After describing the origin of names and surnames since Roman times, he provides an indepth review of numerous Malta derived surnames both in Italy and in Malta. From archivial and parish registers, he finds that Bonfiglio de Malta was a Jewish ship-captain who flourished, very likely at Birgu, around 1380. Lorenzo Maltese was the port master at the Castrum Maris at Birgu in 1399. In the subsequent century, one comes across the pirate Bartholomeus di Malta, recorded in 1476 and probably operating from Birgu wharf. By the time of the arrival of the Order of St John, the registration of full names and surnames was formalised: it is recorded that Michele Maltese married Filippa Greco at Vittoriosa in 1568. Malta-derived surnames were still around at Vittoriosa in later centuries: Maria de Malta married Giovanni Cintio at Vittoriosa in 1814.
Bust of de Vallette St John’s Gate Museum, London
The Museum of the Venerable Order of St John in St John’s Gate, Clerkenwell, London, recently acquired a small but magnificent bust, in silver and gilt bronze, of Grand Master de Valette. It exhibits remarkable workmanship and was almost certainly one of the gifts given to the Grand Master by European potentates after the Great Siege victory. Alan Borg, who is the librarian of the mentioned Museum, makes a case in Treasures of Malta, no. 56, for the attribution of the work to Leone Leoni 1509-1590, who is also ascribed the authorship of the statue of Neptune at the courtyard of the Grand Masters palace in Valletta. He was possibly the uncle of Simon Prevost, the Master of the Order’s Mint at Fort St Angelo from 1559. According to Francesco Balbi di Corregio’s diary of the Great Siege, Leone Leoni formed part of the Piccolo Soccorso relieving force that arrived at Birgu to help the besieged. The bust, like the Philip II jewelled sword of de Vallette, was looted from Malta in 1798. It was sold in Paris in 1860 and later purchased by a London dealer.
Madonna del Buon Viaggio painting at Cospicua parish church
In Treasures of Malta, no 5, historian Simon Mercieca writes about a hitherto unknown painting at the Cospicua parish church which has been attributed to Francesco Zahra. Originally depicting the Madonna del Buon Viaggio with the Fort St Elmo lighthouse in the background, it was subsequently overpainted and altered to represent Our Lady of Mount Carmel, a discovery made during recent restoration. The cult of the Madonna del Buon Viaggio originated in Rome where a church dedicated to her was established in the late 16 th century at Trastevere. Pope Alexander VII imposed a special tax in favour of this church on al ships mooring along the nearly quay. The author recalls that an analogous tax existed at Vittoriosa in support of the church and convent dedicated to Our Lady of Mount Carmel situated on Vittoriosa wharf. It is a disgraceful that the old convent has now been demolished to make way for commercial apartments while the church, with MEPA permission, has been desecrated with the intruding installation of a wooden leisure balcony with access from the apartments right on top of the church’s main door overlooking the Marina!
Ex-voto paintings and artifacts
Fiona Vella’s article entitled Keeping the Faith in the Times of Malta is an erudite piece about the historical importance of ex-voto paintings found in a number of Marian sanctuaries in Malta, notably that at Our Lady of Graces at Zabbar, depicting miraculous survivals at sea. The devotion to Our Lady was at its height at Birgu during the Order’s stay when two sacred Greek icons, Our Lady of Philermos and Our Lady Eleimonetra were venerated, before their transfer to the new city, Valletta. Another Marian icon which remained at Vittoriosa and which evoked much devotion is that of Our Lady of Damascus. This is still in its original location within the chapel which houses the Hat and Sword of Grand Master La Vallette in the Vittoriosa Parish Museum. The said icon is surrounded by numerous ex-voto articles. St Lawrence as patron saint of Vittoriosa was also the centre of devotion and his old niche at St Lawrence church also contained various old ex-voto mementos consisting of sacred images in silver a martello. Regretfully, most of these have disappeared in a sacrilegious robbery that took in 2013.
St Lawrence Band January-February 2014 newsletter
The annual concert that the St Lawrence Band usually holds at this time of year will from this year onwards be held in November. This is the principal announcement in this edition, no.79, of the newsletter. This year’s concert will be dedicated to the late Mro. Hector Dalli who for 28 years led the band as conductor, besides likewise serving other band clubs. For the Vittoriosa band, he will be remembered for the band’s own anthem and the grand choral St Lawrence hymn. The newsletter carries a short biography of him. In his usual history corner, Anton Attard two curiosities about Vittoriosa: one is a throwback to the 15th century and possibly earlier when Birgu hosted a community of Jews living in their ghetto-like quarter within the city still to this day called Triq ta’ Lhud. In line with the prevalent attitude towards jewry, they were not held in much by the people and were sometimes jeered at during lent. The other revelation is during the mid-19th century when a number of priests led by Dun Mikielang Camilleri, pioneered with the opening of a private school in South Street, Vittoriosa, to teach young people to read and write in Maltese. Probably this was also the first time in Malta that evening classes were organised, as some classes were held after working hours. Other historical anecdotes are from Lorenzo Zahra about traditions at Vittoriosa regarding two religious events: the procession on Christmas eve with the statue of Baby Jesus by the MUSEUM Christian Doctrine Society with the participation of the Duke of Edinburgh Band; and special fasting on the feast of Our Lady of Sorrows by way of devotion to the Seven Sorrows of Our Lady. Paul Micallef rounds up this number of the St Lawrence Band newsletter with the concluding part of his interview with Gorg Agius, about the latter’s untiring efforts to preach the Gospel by means of his inimitable sharp but thoughtful rhymes.
St. Dominic dramatisation
A musical about the life of St Dominic has been presented at the Catholic Institute, Floriana. With lyrics by Fr. Claudio Borg OP and musical score by Dominic Cini, the musical was performed by the youth dramatic group Delfini Ferrieha of the Vittoriosa Dominican Community.
Vittoriosa’s Dominican convent
The magazine Xandar il-Kelma published by Kerygma for the Maltese Dominican community provides brief information of the six Dominican convents in Malta. The Dominicans set up at Birgu in 1528 in the chapel of the Annunciation. After the arrival of the Order of St John at Birgu in 1530 who appropriated the church of St Lawrence to become their conventual church, the Annunciation church served as the Birgu parish for almost half a century. During this period the Dominican convent at Vittoriosa opened up a university for general studies. The Annunciation church and convent were bombed in 1941 and were rebuilt.
The Order’s foundry at Birgu
Kenneth Cauchi in an article in Treasures of Malta, no. 56, on the complex conservation project carried out in 2006 – 2008 on the cracked Lascaris Bell at St. John’s Co Cathedral, Valletta, starts by saying that the origin of bell making in Malta is unknown, however it is certain that all bells existing in Malta before the arrival of the Order in 1530 were imported. After that date, foundry expertise was introduced and a foundry, known as ferreria, was set up at Birgu to cast cannons, armaments and maintain the fleet requirements. The foundry presumably formed part of the arsenal. Following the foundation of Valletta, the Order’s foundry was erected on the site of the present building still known as Palazzo Ferreria.
Stolen art treasures displayed in Italy
A treasure trove of stolen art and marble works hunted down by Italian police went on public display in a sumptuous exhibition in the presidential palace in Rome. The artefacts, retrieved in the past few years, included oil paintings and gilt altarpieces. The Italian TV station Rete 4, when reporting the news, stated, that unfortunately, one glaring missing masterpiece from the exhibition is the Caravaggio painting of The Nativity with St Lawrence and St Francis. It was painted by the artist in 1609 for the Franciscan friars’ Oratory of San Lorenzo in Palermo after he had escaped from Malta. It was stolen by the Mafia in 1969 and no trace of it has ever been found. Rete 4 stated that this was the most infamous art crime and that the painting if ever recovered would fetch around €30 million.
Valletta in the footsteps of Vittoriosa
It was announced that Valletta is to have several new hotels, among which a boutique hotel. The Valletta boutique hotel will not be the first on in Malta: Palazzo Vittoriosa, a six-room converted palatial townhouse first opened its doors at Vittoriosa in 2012.
St Joseph’s virtues
St Joseph’s obedience to the will of God and his reticent way of life are the main themes of the March Quarter 2014 issue of Farag, the Catholic Action magazine for the sick and disabled whose editor is Stanley Spiteri, Vittoriosa Historical & Cultural Society Committee Member. To keep to the theme, the front cover of this magazine carries a beautiful close-up of the baroque Melchiorre Gafa’ head of the statue of St Joseph venerated at St Lawrence Collegiate Church, Vittoriosa. Previous numbers of Farag from 2013 also carried Vittoriosa-related pictures: that for the June Quarter had on the cover Vittoriosa’s Salvu Psaila statue of the Risen Christ while on the inside there was a picture of the Holy Crucifix from the Vittoriosa Good Friday processional statues; in the September Quarter issue there was a picture of the main altar of St Lawrence Church decorated for the feast of St Lawrence.
Fr. Guzi Mifsud OSA passed away
Vittoriosa-born Fr. Joseph Mifsud passes away aged 81. He was more popularly known as Fr. Leone. He never missed his annual appointment to say Mass at St Lawrence Church on the feast day of St Lawrence. He performed missionary service in Tunis and Algiers and was a much sought-after preacher. He was the brother of Mons. Chev. Lawrence Mifsud, ex-Archpriest of St Lawrence Collegiate Church and at present Rector of St John’s Co-Cathedral, Valletta, and Chaplain of the Sanctuary of the Sacred Heart, Zebbug, and who wrote an obituary for him in the St Lawrence band newsletter. His life-time colleague, Fr Mark Cauchi OSA, also wrote a appreciation in Lehen is-Sewwa. The funeral Mass was held at the St Augustine Church, Rabat, and was attended by H.E. the President of Malta.
Fr Saviour Magro OSA passed away
The Augustianian Fathers lost another member of the fraternity, Fr Saviour Magro, aged 70. He also left to mourn him his brothers and sisters, among whom Sr. Lorenza Magro, cloistered nun of St Scholastica, Vittoriosa.
Comm. James Gollcher passed away
Comm. Gollcher, aged 86, was the son of the illustrious national benefactor Olaf Gollcher, the person behind a massive collection of artistic and historical artefacts that are now exhibited in his former palace at Mdina, the Norman House, a museum run by the Gollcher Foundation. The Gollcher family whose association maritime business goes back many years, had its origin at Vittoriosa. Indeed the original modest Gollcher residence is still extant at Hilda Tabone Street, formerly Brittania Street, and is marked by a plaque.
Mr Edgar Spiteri Staines passed away
Mr Edgar Spiteri Staines passed away, aged 84. The Spiteri Staines family had its roots originally at Vittoriosa.
Vittoriosa youth nominated for Youth of the Year Award 2013
Matthew Gellel, a young man from Vittoriosa, was among the ten finalists for the 2013 award organised by the Kerygma Youth Movement and is mentioned in the March 2014 issue of the Kerygma magazine Xandar il-Kelma. He distinguishes himself by taking various initiatives for fellow youths and performs community work at his home town. This is the second time that a Vittoriosa youth ended up as a finalist: last year it was Christian Raggio. Congratulations.
Sports is part of culture
Historian and sports commentator Lino Bugeja in an article in the Times of Malta with the above title, shows his disappointment that in a recent Euro-survey on cultural participation, Malta was put as second from the bottom. He questions why this is so when, following the arrival of the Knights in 1530, Malta joined the mainstream of European art and culture and Malta now boasts a unique historical heritage. He also criticises disparaging comments made about Maltese sportsmanship and states that interest in sports was evident since many years as evidenced by the popularity of the regatta and horse racing.
Malta Film Commission
The Malta Film Commission, the government authority for the promotion of Malta as an excellent venue for film production and the entity responsible for the administration of state-incentives to the film industry has set up its office at Caraffa Stores on the Vittoriosa Waterfront.
St Anthony the Abbot
One of Lehen is-Sewwa’s recent saint-of-the-week column was reserved to the early church mystic St Anthony the Abbot (251-350). He was a hermit in the Egyptian desert and became the founder of Catholic monasticism. His devotion had close ties with Vittoriosa: the medieval chapel dedicated to him at Birgu that followed the oriental rite was selected by the Knights of St John upon their arrival in Malta in 1530 to serve as the Order’s parish church serving the spiritual needs of the community supporting the Order: the officers, the soldiers, the galley workers, the builders and their dependants, in contrast with St Lawrence Conventual Church which was reserved for the Knights. St Anthony the Abbot chapel stood in the street that still bears his name: St Anthony Street. His feastday on 17 January was solemnly celebrated followed with the blessing of the Order’s horses, a tradition which developed into today’s annual animal blessing practiced in some parishes around the Islands. The chapel was destroyed during the war and some stone remnants and other relics have survived and are exhibited at the Vittoriosa Parish Museum.
Pope John Paul II’s canonisation
The canonisation of St John Paul II and his visit to Vittoriosa on 26 May 1990 during his memorable first visit to Malta were commemorated with a grand concert at St Lawrence Church by the Valparaiso University Chamber Ensemble from the USA, under the patronship of H.E Mgr Aldo Cavalli, Apostolic Nuncio for Malta. The concert was realised through the collaboration of the Vittoriosa Local Council, the JP2 Foundation and V.Tabone Travel.
Sculptor Salvu Psaila remembered
A letter from a correspondent in Lehen is-Sewwa recalled the excellent wood sculptures of Salvu Psaila (1789-1871). He was born in Cospicua and was the apprentice of Mariano Gerada. Probably his most mentioned work is the imposing statue of St Helen for the Birkirkara Basilica. But at Vittoriosa he has left other superlative works: the Good Friday statues of the Scourging, the Ecce Homo, and the Risen Christ.
Statue of Our Lady of Porto Salvu
A niche with the statue of Our Lady of Porto Salvu was inaugurated at Vittoriosa last summer on the feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. The story behind this statue is fervently recounted by Fr. Lawrence Attard OP from Vittoriosa in the January-March 2014 issue of the Lehen ix-Xirka magazine. He narrates how this statue was in fact the original statue that stood next to the old Point-of-View bar on the bastions of the Post of Allemagne, known as Is-Sur tat-Toqba, overlooking the Grand Harbour entrance. This bar belonged to his uncle and during the inter-war period was frequented by seamen, sailors and fishermen. These had decided to collect money for the erection nearby of a niche for the Madonna under the title of Porto Salvu, for the safe return from sea voyages. A similar devotion already existed at Valletta and at Senglea. During the war the area was bombed but the statue survived intact and was picked by the author’s uncle and passed it to his father for safe-keeping. It had stayed for all these years in the author’s house and he recounts how it was an inspiration for him during his youth when he was studying for the priesthood. It was only by coincidence that it occurred to him to approach Guzi Attard, his cousin, who is a Vittoriosa benefactor, and who offered to pay for the rebuilding of the niche and the return of the statue to its original place after some 70 years. The area is now a bocci pitch club whose members have undertaken to take care of the restored niche and statue.
Altar boys at St Lawrence Church
In the Vittoriosa parish magazine Ahna, Fr John Avellino in his periodic commentary makes an appeal to parents to enrol their young children as altar boys. He regrets that while in past years St Lawrence Church used to attract numerous members to serve as altar boys, it is now hard to find and to retain several numbers due to demographical and social factors. There are at present some 10 altar boys. The Vittoriosa parish counts around 2,300 people.
Vittoriosa featured in AirMalta inflight magazine
Publication of the AirMalta inflight magazine had been stopped several years ago. Recently it has been resumed and has now reached issue no. 15 which carries a four page article by Robert Weatherburn about Vittoriosa, tracing the city’s ancient origin and highlighting its unique character as a fortified city playing the leading role during the Great Siege of 1565 and withstanding intense suffering during the war. The article promotes the Malta At War Museum at Vittoriosa run by Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna. It is accompanied by beautiful pictures of Vittoriosa historical landmarks. The magazine also contains separately two pictures of Vittoriosa: an areal view of the city and the Vittoriosa marina with St Lawrence church in the background.
The majesty of Maltese church domes
In an article entitles Challenging Gravity, Noel Grima in The Malta Independent on Sunday gives a brilliant description of the development of church building over the centuries and the emergence of the baroque church dome as a main architectural landmark. He was reporting a lecture on the subject given by historian Kenneth Cauchi, mentioning various Maltese dome-builders including Tommaso Dingli, Francesco Buonamici and the Vittoriosa-born architect Lorenzo Gafa’. He mentions Gafa’s early attempt at dome construction typified by the old dome of St Lawrence church which was destroyed during the war and replaced by a new one to the design of Prof. Galea and erected by master mason Pietru Farrugia tas-Siggiewi, who was also involved in the reconstruction of the dome of the Annunication Church at Vittoriosa. Interestingly, Gafa’ used the old St Lawrence dome as models for the domes of St Philip Neri churches both at Vittoriosa and at Senglea.
Vittoriosa doctor serving in Gozo 400 years ago
Joseph Bezzina carries out research in the Gozo national archives and publishes his findings in the monthly magazine Il-Hajja f’Ghawdex. In the January 2014 number he makes reference to a petition to Grand Master Alof de Wignacourt, made in 1614 by the Gozo Universita’, as the regional local council was then called, asking for the appointment of a Gozitan doctor to serve as medico fisico for Gozo, to replace the outgoing one whose term had ended. The latter was Dottor Consolvo Abela della Citta’ Vittoriosa. Their request was in fact acceded to.
Unruly knights condemned to Gozo prison
Another periodic rubric in the Gozo magazine Il-Hajja f’Ghawdex is from Anton F. Attard who studies life and folklore in Gozo. This time he looks at the history and traditions surrounding the old prison at the Citadel in Gozo, including the underground dungeon which was similar to that found at Fort St Angelo, Vittoriosa, popularly know as il-guva. He refers to violent skirmishs involving two knights, Fra Filiberto Lobes and Fra Giovanni Ortis, place which took in the Spanish Auberge at Birgu in 1534, both of whom were sentenced with imprisonment at the Gozo dungeon. Fra Bartolomeo Vasco knocked down the Judge Ortensio Spatafora in the Order’s court of justice at Birgu in 1542, which landed him in the Gozo underground dungeon. A famous resident of the Gozo prison in 1538 was the young and naughty La Vallette after having quarrelled with another knight. He spent four months locked in the Gozo prison and a further two years in exile in Tripoli Castle.
St Lawrence Band March-April 2014 newsletter
The editorial of this issue is mainly about the seminar organised by the Band Committee to which Vittoriosa associations were invited to discuss the band’s part in the Vittoriosa community and how its contribution and participation could be improved. Mr Lawrence V Farrugia, President, summarised the points discussed which included the society’s updated statute, the improved communication with members, the need for volunteers, the upgrade of the club’s public area and the finaces. Anton Attard’s usual historical article is this time about the old Slave Prisons of the Order of St John which were unfortunately excavated in 1907. The slaves were used in the construction and maintenance of the bastions but mostly for the galleys. The other historical corner in the newsletter from Lorenzo Zahra is a chronicle from 19th and early 20th century press reports concerning Vittoriosa; for instance it was reported in 1855 that a petition was made to the colonial government to set up a water fountain in Vittoriosa Square; in 1924 it was reported that the new dome of the Annunciation church built by the Vella brothers of Gozo to the design of Vittoriosa-born architect Gustav Soler, had been completed. Paul Micallef’s usual interview with Vittoriosa personalities this time is with Mr Geert Sciot, who though not from Vittoriosa, resides there and has integrated intimately with the city and its life to the extent that he now owns and runs on professional lines the modern restaurant-coffee shop facilities at the St Lawrence Band Club in Vittoriosa Square. Indeed, he is an ardent musician himself and plays the band with the St Lawrence Band.
Library in a digitalised environment
Oliver Mamo, the National Librarian and CEO of Malta Libraries Association wrote an article in the Times of Malta on the expanding role of libraries and the need for new strategies to maximise their use in the digital world. It is to be recalled that the first time that the idea of setting up a national library was in 1555 at Birgu as decreed by Grand Master Claude de la Sengle. In 2005, the Vittoriosa Historical & Cultural Society celebrated the 450th anniversary of the foundation of the Malta Library with special events including the launch of this website with the assistance of its web administrator, Dr Alastair Farrugia.