Collegiate Parish Church of St Paul's Shipwreck

Collegiate of St Paul
The Collegiate Matrix Parish church of Saint Paul
Il-Knisja Kolleġġjata Arċipretali u Matriċi ta' San Pawl

Façade of the Church of St Paul's Shipwreck
Collegiate of St Paul
Location in Malta
35°53′51″N 14°30′50″E / 35.89740°N 14.51386°E / 35.89740; 14.51386Coordinates: 35°53′51″N 14°30′50″E / 35.89740°N 14.51386°E / 35.89740; 14.51386
Location Valletta
Country Malta
Denomination Roman Catholic
Website Website of the church
History
Founded 1570
Dedication Saint Paul
Dedicated 15 May
Architecture
Status Active
Functional status Collegiate church
Parish church
Architectural type Church
Style Baroque
Specifications
Number of spires 2
Bells 7
Administration
Parish Valletta
Archdiocese Malta
Clergy
Archpriest Alex Cordina
Main altar
Relic of St. Paul
Part of the column on which the saint was beheaded in Rome

The Collegiate Parish Church of St Paul's Shipwreck, also known as simply the Church of St Paul's Shipwreck, is a Roman Catholic parish church in Valletta, Malta. It is one of Valletta's oldest churches.[1]

History

Saint Paul the Apostle is considered the spiritual father of the Maltese. His shipwreck on Malta is described in the New Testament (Acts 28, 1). St. Luke wrote, "we found that the island was called Melita".[2]:V

The church traces its origins to 1570s, was designed by Girolamo Cassar, and completed in December 1582. The church was ceded to the Jesuit Fathers and a new church was started in 1639. The church's facade was rebuilt in 1885 according to the design of Nicola Zammit.[2]:6

The church building is listed on the National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands.[3]

Interior

The church hosts fine artistic works, including the magnificent altarpiece by Matteo Perez d'Aleccio, the paintings by Attilio Palombi, and Giuseppe Calì.[2]:8,15,35 The wooden titular statue of St Paul was carved in 1659 by Melchiorre Cafà, the brother of Lorenzo Gafà who designed the dome.[2]:42,18 The statue is paraded through the streets of Valletta on the feast day of St Paul's Shipwreck, February 10, sometimes during heavy rain.[1][4] One can also view the relic of the right wrist-bone of St Paul, and part of the column from San Paolo alle Tre Fontane, on which the saint was beheaded in Rome.[2]:38,60

See also

References

Citations
  1. 1 2 Bain 2004, p. 38
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Ciarlo, C.j., 2008, The Hidden Gem, Valletta: Progress Press Co. Ltd, ISBN 9990930015
  3. ↑ "Collegiate Church of St. Paul's Shipwreck" (PDF). National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands. 27 August 2012. Retrieved 31 October 2015.
  4. ↑ B. Leo Barrington (1992). The Malta Year Book. Malta: St. Michael's College Publications. p. 436.
Bibliography
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