Easter Sunday Processions in Malta and Gozo
Encyclopedia
Easter Sunday processions are just as popular in Malta
and Gozo
as the Good Friday
manifestations. Every year, 19 processions are organised – 14 in Malta (Birgu
, Cospicua
, Gżira
, Mosta
, Qormi
in the two parishes of St. George and St. Sebastian, Rabat
, Senglea
, Valletta
, Zebbug
, Żejtun
) and five in Gozo – together with another one in Fontana
(Gozo) the following Sunday and preceded by a short procession at Baħrija on Easter Saturday
evening.
Easter procession is organised by the only Confraternity
of the Risen Christ to exist in the Maltese Islands. This confraternity traces its origin to April 1, 1659, when a sodality was instituted in the Greek (Catholic) church of Valletta through a Papal Bull
issued by Pope Alexander VII (the former Fabio Chigi, Inquisitor of Malta, 1634–1639).
On June 5, 1892, its members were authorised to wear a white habit, a red girdle and a medallion of the Risen Christ, thus becoming a confraternity. On March 7, 1934, Archbishop Maurus Caruana permitted the transfer of this confraternity from the Greek Church to the Church of the Jesuits
, also in Valletta, where it still has its seat today.
It is traditionally held that the Valletta wooden statue of the Risen Christ (L-Irxoxt) is in the Melchiorre Cafà genre which, if correct, would date it to the second half of the 17th century. However, there is no documentation to actually demonstrate thr origins of the Valletta procession because many records were destroyed in World War II
, when the Greek church was destroyed in air raids.
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
and Gozo
Gozo
Gozo is a small island of the Maltese archipelago in the Mediterranean Sea. The island is part of the Southern European country of Malta; after the island of Malta itself, it is the second-largest island in the archipelago...
as the Good Friday
Good Friday
Good Friday , is a religious holiday observed primarily by Christians commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and his death at Calvary. The holiday is observed during Holy Week as part of the Paschal Triduum on the Friday preceding Easter Sunday, and may coincide with the Jewish observance of...
manifestations. Every year, 19 processions are organised – 14 in Malta (Birgu
Birgu
Birgu is an ancient city in Malta. It played a vital role in the Siege of Malta in 1565. Its population stood at 2,633 in December 2008.-History:...
, Cospicua
Cospicua
Ċittà Cottonera, Ċittà Cospicua, Cospicua is a double-fortified harbour city on the Mediterranean island of Malta. It is the largest of the Three Cities. It was also given a title as Citta' Cottonera, but erroneously the title is now used to define the whole region...
, Gżira
Gzira
Gżira is a town in the north-eastern coast of Malta between Msida & Sliema, and bordering on Ta' Xbiex, with its famed yacht marina and Embassy Row. The population is approximately 7,100 . The word Gżira means "island" in Maltese, and the town is named after Manoel Island which lies just adjacent...
, Mosta
Mosta
Mosta is a town situated in the middle of the island of Malta, to the north-west of Valletta. It had a population of 19,018 people in 2010. Mosta celebrates the feast of Saint Mary the Assumption on the 15th August. This is a very popular feast among the Mostin and tourists alike...
, Qormi
Qormi
Qormi is a city in Malta with a population of 18,550 , which makes it the second largest locality in Malta...
in the two parishes of St. George and St. Sebastian, Rabat
Rabat, Malta
Rabat is a village just outside Mdina, Malta. The name of the village is derived from the Arabic word for 'suburb': الرباط, as it was the suburb of the old capital Mdina. Half of the present-day village core also formed part of the Roman city of Melita, before the latter was resized during the...
, Senglea
Senglea
Senglea is a fortified city in the east of Malta, mainly in the Grand Harbour area. It is one of the Three Cities in the east of Malta, the other two being Cospicua and Vittoriosa. The city of Senglea is also called Civitas Invicta, because it managed to resist the Ottoman invasion at the Great...
, Valletta
Valletta
Valletta is the capital of Malta, colloquially known as Il-Belt in Maltese. It is located in the central-eastern portion of the island of Malta, and the historical city has a population of 6,098. The name "Valletta" is traditionally reserved for the historic walled citadel that serves as Malta's...
, Zebbug
Zebbug, Malta
Ħaż-Żebbuġ or Città Rohan is one of the oldest towns in Malta. Its population is 12,892 as of 2010 making it the 12th largest town in Malta.-History and origins:...
, Żejtun
Zejtun
Żejtun is a medium sized town in the south of Malta. Żejtun holds the title of Città Beland, which was bestowed by Ferdinand von Hompesch zu Bolheim, Grandmaster of Knights of Malta in 1797, Beland being his mother's surname....
) and five in Gozo – together with another one in Fontana
Fontana, Gozo
Il-Fontana is a village on Gozo Island, Malta, with a population of 846 people .Fontana originated from the suburb of Victoria on the Rabat-Xlendi road. Its local name is "It-Triq tal-Ghajn", , and it took its name from a spring at the bottom of the road leading to Xlendi, known locally as...
(Gozo) the following Sunday and preceded by a short procession at Baħrija on Easter Saturday
Easter Saturday
Easter Saturday, or Bright Saturday, is the Saturday following the Christian festival of Easter. In the liturgy of Western Christianity it is the last day of Easter Week, sometimes referred to as the Saturday of Easter Week or Saturday in Easter Week. In the liturgy of Eastern Christianity it is...
evening.
Earliest Processions
The VallettaValletta
Valletta is the capital of Malta, colloquially known as Il-Belt in Maltese. It is located in the central-eastern portion of the island of Malta, and the historical city has a population of 6,098. The name "Valletta" is traditionally reserved for the historic walled citadel that serves as Malta's...
Easter procession is organised by the only Confraternity
Confraternity
A confraternity is normally a Roman Catholic or Orthodox organization of lay people created for the purpose of promoting special works of Christian charity or piety, and approved by the Church hierarchy...
of the Risen Christ to exist in the Maltese Islands. This confraternity traces its origin to April 1, 1659, when a sodality was instituted in the Greek (Catholic) church of Valletta through a Papal Bull
Papal bull
A Papal bull is a particular type of letters patent or charter issued by a Pope of the Catholic Church. It is named after the bulla that was appended to the end in order to authenticate it....
issued by Pope Alexander VII (the former Fabio Chigi, Inquisitor of Malta, 1634–1639).
On June 5, 1892, its members were authorised to wear a white habit, a red girdle and a medallion of the Risen Christ, thus becoming a confraternity. On March 7, 1934, Archbishop Maurus Caruana permitted the transfer of this confraternity from the Greek Church to the Church of the Jesuits
Church of the Jesuits
The Jesuits' Church is one of the oldest churches in Valletta, Malta, and one of the largest in the diocese. The site, comprising a college and a church is bounded by four streets occupying the whole area. St Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Society of Jesus in 1534, had considered founding a...
, also in Valletta, where it still has its seat today.
It is traditionally held that the Valletta wooden statue of the Risen Christ (L-Irxoxt) is in the Melchiorre Cafà genre which, if correct, would date it to the second half of the 17th century. However, there is no documentation to actually demonstrate thr origins of the Valletta procession because many records were destroyed in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, when the Greek church was destroyed in air raids.