Basilica of the Nativity of Mary, Senglea
Basilica of the Nativity of Mary | |
---|---|
The Basilica and Collegiate Parish Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary | |
Bażilika u Kolleġġjata tal-Madonna tal-Vitorja | |
Archdiocese of Malta | |
Parish | Senglea |
Clergy | |
Archpriest | Robin Camilleri |
The Basilica of the Nativity of Mary or Basilica of Our Lady of Victories is a Roman Catholic
History
It was most probably built by the architect
The church was destroyed by bombs in 1941, but was rebuilt and consecrated by Archbishop Gonzi on 24 August 1956.
The church building is listed on the National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands.[3]
Works of art
The main attraction of the basilica, a wooden statue of Mary, known as Il-Bambina, was carved in 1618, painted in 1631 and gilded. The sculptor of this statue is still unknown. After the coronation of the statue of Mary in 1921, the church became a sanctuary. The crown contains diamonds and other precious stones. Around the statue are four silver angels created in 1934. In 1956 another existing marble statue, which was consecrated in 1956 was erected. There are four busts of Pope Benedict XV, Archbishop Mauro Caruana, the symbol of Senglea and the Grand Master La Sengle. The columns show 16 saints who are connected with Maria: Four Evangelists, four popes, four Doctors of the Church and the four founders of Christian orders. Furthermore, the church houses seven bells.
Manuscripts
In the Basilica there are many manuscripts dating back to the 17th and 18th centuries.[
Notable manuscripts found in the archives include a diary written by Francesco Saverio Baldacchino. This diary can shed light on the last years of the Knights in Malta, the French occupation of Malta and the early year of British rule. Currently, this diary is being studied and transcribed by Maltese scholars at the University of Malta.
See also
- Culture of Malta
- History of Malta
- List of Churches in Malta
- Religion in Malta
References
- ^ "L-Isla (Senglea)", Archdiocese of Malta, Malta. Retrieved on 8 December 2017.
- ^ "Senglea Parish Church". Retrieved 24 August 2015.
- ^ "Collegiate Parish Church of the Nativity of the Madonna" (PDF). National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands. 27 August 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 August 2016. Retrieved 31 October 2015.