Malta celebrates the Feast of Patron St. Paul on February 10th. It’s an “age-old tradition,” and the only winter festival. The feast is a public holiday marked by church masses, street celebrations, fireworks, decorations, and public processions.
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“The Feast of St. Paul Shipwrecked is a much-loved occasion across Malta. It commemorates St. Paul’s shipwreck on the island in 60 AD, an event believed to have introduced Christianity to Malta.”
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History
The main ceremony is celebrated at the Collegiate Parish Church of St Paul located on St Paul’s Street in Valletta. Originally built in 1582 and redesigned in 1885, it’s a “major Baroque landmark” and one of Valletta’s oldest churches. The church houses a relic of St. Paul’s wrist bone and part of the pillar on which he was beheaded in Rome, making it a significant place of pilgrimage. The church interior feature frescoes of the shipwreck and artwork by various artists, including Attilio Palombi, Matteo Perez d’Aleccio. and Lorenzo Gafa.
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“On feast day, the statue of St. Paul is taken out of the church and paraded around Valletta to be seen.”
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The Feast, a “significant event in the Maltese socio-religious calendar,” began during the 17th Century. It’s recounted in the Acts of the Apostles in the New Testament of the Bible.
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“St. Paul didn’t stay long. According to sources, he left for Alexandria after three months and never returned to the limestone rocks of the Maltese islands. Except for 2,000 years later, when his right wrist bone did.” Atlas Obscura
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St. Paul and Malta “have a long relationship dating back 2,000 years”. Paul found his way to Malta by chance and gave the islands Christianity, “making them one of the first Roman colonies to convert to Christianity”.
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Publius, first Roman Bishop of Malta, and Paul are central to the Maltese tradition. Their meeting sparked the introduction of Christianity to the island.”
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“The Roman ship taking Paul to be tried as a political rebel didn’t reach its destination. It was caught in a storm and wrecked on the shores of Malta. The spot where he landed was named St. Paul’s Bay after the Apostle. St. Paul’s Grotto and nearby Parish Church of St Paul are also linked to Paul’s stay on the island. The islanders, including Publius, Roman governor of Malta, welcomed Apostle Paul and gave shipwrecked survivors shelter.
Legends
Legends surround Paul’s time in Malta. It’s said that he took refuge in a cave and was poisoned by a snake, but “miraculously felt no ill-effects“. Paul became famous for his healing abilities, including curing the father of Publius of fever and dysentery. After the healing, Publius converted to Catholicism and become the first Roman Bishop of Malta and a saint. The Cathedral of Mdina is believed to stand on the site of Publius’ house.
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“Every year, on February 10th, Maltese celebrate their faith which is perceived to be a key factor in Maltese identity and marked with religious ceremonies and processions.”
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Celebration Activities
The firing of canons from the Saluting Battery commemorates the feast celebration, followed by a traditional band marching through the streets of Valletta. To mark the date, the Archbishop and President of Malta inaugurate the feast in Valletta.
I was exploring Gozo on February 10th, so didn’t have the opportunity to see the Valletta celebration. Catholics attend masses and pray on the day of the feast, but some welcome the holiday as a time to relax and spend time with their friends and family. Gozo is spread out, and I didn’t notice celebrations in the areas we explored. The number of churches in Malta is dizzying, and many are named after St. Paul. Their bells ring daily.
More later…