The first bishop of Malta. History of Malta

Catholicism plays a huge role in the cultural life of the Maltese. With a population of about 400 thousand people, there are about 400 churches. About one for every thousand local residents, perhaps the highest concentration in Europe. More than 150 towns and villages celebrate patron saint days in Malta. One of the largest holidays in the country is dedicated to the Apostle Paul, who found himself on the island after the shipwreck on which he was taken to Rome to be tried for preaching Christianity.

TEXT ALEXANDER POPOV

Honoring Paul

The Apostle Paul is the most revered saint in Malta. In conversation with the Maltese, so as not to spoil relations, there should be no doubt that around 60 it was he who brought Christianity to Malta. This is described in sufficient detail in the Acts of the Holy Apostles, where Malta is called the island of Melitus.

Paul (at birth was named Saul) was not one of the twelve disciples of Jesus and, apparently, saw Christ for the first time during the execution. Saul was an ardent persecutor of the early Christians until he had a “vision on the road to Damascus,” when, struck by sudden blindness, he heard the voice of God and was then miraculously healed. After being baptized, Saul changed his name to Paul and became one of the most passionate preachers of Christianity. For this he was taken into custody, but since, as a Roman citizen, Paul was not subject to the Jews, he was sent to Rome for trial. On the way, the ship hit heavy storm and crashed near Malta. According to legend, this happened in the bay, which today bears the name of St. Paul and is located 17 kilometers northwest of Valletta, the capital of Malta.

Historic Bay

Today, along with two rocky uninhabited islands, also named after St. Paul, the bay and the merged towns of Qawra and Bugibba form the largest tourist area of ​​the island. This is a typical Mediterranean resort with palm trees, beach umbrellas, seaside restaurants, clear sea water and colorful fishing boats. The beaches are rocky, although, for example, the beach in Aura next to the Dolmen Hotel Resort 4* (they often stay here Russian tourists) - combined: there is bulk sand on the shore, and the descent into the water is along ladders between stones. This area is chosen mainly by tourists with average incomes. There are more than 40 hotels here, but there are no 5* hotels.

Nearby is the resort town of St. Paul’s Bay, at the entrance to which stands the Apostle’s Fountain (Ghain Rasul). According to legend, here Paul called water from a rock with a blow of his staff to give drink to the shipwrecked.

Paul spent three months on the island, performing many good deeds and miracles, and the local residents began to revere him as God. He cured the father of the Roman consul Publius, who later became the first bishop of Malta. For this, Publius was deprived of his consular post by the Roman authorities, taken to Italy and thrown to the mercy of wild lions in the arena. He was subsequently canonized. And Paul, after three months spent in Malta, was brought to Rome and two years later executed by beheading.

Parish Church of St. Pavel

According to legend, Paul lived in a grotto (St. Paul’s Grotto), above which in the 17th century. The parish church of St. Paul was built. Today this is the territory of Rabat, a suburb of the former Maltese capital Mdina. In the grotto there is a marble statue of the apostle. Suspended from the vault is a silver candlestick in the shape of a ship on which the apostle was taken to Rome for trial. This is a gift from the Order in honor of the 1900th anniversary of the famous shipwreck.

Numerous pilgrims have been chipping away pieces of stone from the walls of the grotto for centuries, as they are believed to have healing properties. In 1990, Pope John Paul II celebrated a mass in the grotto, as commemorated by a memorial plaque at the base of the pedestal. The lamps surrounding the sculpture of the apostle are a gift from the pope.

They say that in 1600 one of the Spanish aristocrats came to Malta and wished to become a knight. However, once on the island, he changed his mind and, like Paul, lived for some time in a grotto as a hermit. In honor of this asceticism, the Chapel of St. Publius was added to the church.

Malta Cathedral

With the name of St. Paul's is also associated with Malta's Cathedral of St. Peter and Paul's (Cathedral St. Peter-&-St.-Paul's), standing in Mdina on St. Square. Paul's (St. Paul's Sq.), the largest in this town. The collection was erected by the Knights of Malta at the beginning of the 18th century on the site of a small church from the 11th century. According to legend, here stood the house of Publius and the small chapel that he built when he became a bishop. Here Paul and Publius met for the first time. Thus, it is believed that it was from here that Christianity began to spread in Malta. The cross with two crossbars on the roof of the temple indicates that it has the status of a cathedral. The color scheme of the cathedral's interior is interesting, in which the green floor and ceiling harmoniously combine with dark burgundy walls. The frescoes behind and above the altar depict episodes from the life of St. Paul, including “The Conversion of Saul” and a picture of the storm that carried the ship to Malta.

Church of the Shipwreck

The Shipwreck Church in Valletta, one of the oldest on the island (XVI), also reminds of Paul's stay in Malta. Columns made of colored marble support a vault decorated with frescoes with scenes from the life of the preacher. Among the church relics is a gilded a fragment of the right hand of St. Paul and part of a column on which, according to legend, the apostle's head was cut off in Rome.At the entrance, the attendant gives everyone accompanying sheets with a description of the church and its relics in many languages, including Russian.

After a busy second day in Malta, we didn’t sit and get sick in the hotel. We slept off, didn’t find the promised rain again, so we decided to go to Valletta after 2 p.m., fortunately it was a 10-minute bus ride.

We shouldn't have done this. In vain, in vain, in vain.

Along the way we took photographs of the area in front of the bus station. The area in front of the bus station is called Floriana.


There are several squares and a couple of attractions here, the Monument in the center (right in front of the bus station).

Independence Monument. Malta gained independence from Great Britain on September 21, 1964, a holiday is celebrated everywhere on this occasion (oh, it didn’t last a couple of weeks, it would be interesting to see).

If buses are not impressive, carriages are at your service.

Maglio Gardens and some kind of restoration project "9 monuments" inside the garden.

The gardens are deserted.

Doesn't he remind you of anyone?

The area nearby is called Fosos. It’s very interesting what kind of column stumps these are and what was here before.


In the distance you can see the Cathedral of St. Publius (according to church tradition, this was the first bishop in Malta).

And it’s already half past three. And the Cathedral of St. John is open until 16, you should not slow down and go to the city and to the cathedral.

Straight to St. John's Cathedral. The cathedral is gorgeous. For just 6 euros per person, we were able to visit and take many photographs of the most beautiful cathedral in Malta, as well as listen to its history through an audio guide in English (there are no Russians here yet). There was a separate entrance to the museum where photography was prohibited. In addition to various exhibits, it also contains priceless paintings by Caravaggio. However, the price of the ticket included the entrance itself without taking photographs - you were introduced to the beauty.

The cathedral was built in the 16th century and dedicated to St. John the Baptist, the main patron of the Knights Hospitaller.

Separately about the floor - the floor is lined with marble tombstones of the knights who fought for Malta. There are about 380 slabs in total. Some parts of the cathedral are prohibited from entering and tourists are not allowed here.

The slabs are very well preserved. Each represents the family crest of the corresponding knight. You walk on them with great caution.

the vaults were painted by the Italian artist Matia Pretty. The ceiling depicts scenes from the life of John the Baptist.

Master Valette, who founded the city, is also buried in the cathedral.

The cathedral is called Co-Cathedral. This happened because over time the cathedral in the old capital Mdina was appointed the main cathedral of Malta (we will go there later), but the significance of this is undeniable. There was a division of the functions of the archbishop's throne between the two councils. Therefore, St. John's Cathedral is called Co-Cathedral, that is, it occupies a position on a par with the cathedral, but at the same time is not one. Is the brain blown out? Then look at the pictures.

What is a cathedral without an organ?

The cathedral is luxurious in its interior decoration.

And yet it is operational; every day, in addition to receiving thousands of tourists, services are held here.

We examined everything carefully and thoroughly and were about to leave (there was half an hour left before closing). And when we were about to leave, a terrible downpour started pouring down the street, so we had to continue to wait and be interested in art. Half an hour, an hour later, the cathedral is already preparing to close. It's pouring out on the street monthly norm precipitation. However, never mind.

It’s already 16-25 and all the visitors who don’t dare go out into the rain are crowding at the exit near the souvenir shop. But they didn’t kick us out; they let us wait until the rain stopped. The caretakers silently endure, they don’t drive people out into the rain. “They would have pushed us out a long time ago, the museum is closing.”

The rain did not stop, but only weakened. I had to buy an umbrella for 10 euros. We went to the station and saw a huge queue of about 200 people at each stop on our routes. Clouds are creeping in nearby. Route 12 arrives and people begin to storm it. Meanwhile the 15th arrived, going to Sliema Ferris (half way to our hotel). We decide not to risk it and climb into the 12th, fortunately the people were not pushing too much, and queuing in line for the bus is in our blood. Participation in the celebration of life called "The Storming of the Bastille - Maltese version" was painless. We decided to turn on “Russo Touristo” for once because we had serious doubts about our health when caught in the rain, and we also had to travel and travel.

We drove this 10-minute route for 2 and a half hours (of which 50 minutes we could not leave until the next stop after the station. As a result, it was already dark, we and other passengers cursed everything and everyone in several languages, we managed to tell all our friends on the phone, in what a hole they got into. And the Italians screamed and laughed all the way. Some of the people got out and walked if they knew where to go. In the end, the driver took everyone in a roundabout way instead of Sliema to St. Julian. “You’ll catch another bus there or something.” I haven't heard such nonsense for a long time - we were traveling for almost 3 hours, and we were also taken to the wrong place. The air conditioner also worked non-stop, which is why we were guaranteed to get cold during the 2.5 hours we were on the bus. Crowds of tourists went straight on foot, and we We waited another 15 minutes until the 12th bus arrived, on which we got to the hotel. The supermarket has not been open for a long time at 21:00. We were left without tea, fortunately the hotel refreshes our tea bags every day, it lasted until the morning.

Total - a small "f" to the local system of dealing with traffic jams. For the rest, they themselves are fools - there was no need to go to Valletta in the rain, when there were a lot of people and traffic jams. Today's traffic jam seems to be an exception - some kind of accident on the road. But it’s still worth thinking about avoiding transport after 17:00 - attractions are only available during daylight hours.

Tomorrow, if we still haven’t developed bronchitis, then I’d like to go to Mosta and see Palazzo Parisio along the way.

Malta(Malt. and English. Malta), Republic of Malta- an island state in the Mediterranean Sea. The name comes from the ancient Phoenician malat(“harbour”, “refuge”). The capital is Valletta.

Orthodoxy in Malta

According to the Holy Scriptures, Christianity was brought to Malta the Apostle Paul in the 1st century (Acts of the Apostles, XVIII). To this day, relics associated with him and his student Luca are displayed on the island. Despite the fact that after the Great Schism Malta became Catholic (currently 98% of Maltese are Catholics), Malta's ties with Orthodoxy still exist. The most famous link connecting the Christians of Malta and the Christian East is the Philermos icon of the Mother of God. Written, according to legend, by the Evangelist Luke, in the 16th-18th centuries it was kept in Malta, under Paul I, along with the hand of John the Baptist and a particle Life-giving Cross was transported to Gatchina, and is now stored in Montenegro.

In the 20th century, Malta was visited by many emigrants from Russia, including the mother of the last emperor. It is known that she prayed in the Russian Chapel of the presidential palace.

In 2001, a symposium “The Venerated Philermo Icon of the Mother of God and Its Place in Art, History and Religion” was held in La Valletta, which became the occasion for the visit to the country of Kirill, Metropolitan of Smolensk and Kaliningrad (Russian Orthodox Church), and Amphilochius, Metropolitan of Montenegro ( Serbian Orthodox Church), which donated Catholic Church Malta list of Philermos icon. Metropolitan Kirill celebrated the liturgy in Church Slavonic for the first time in Malta. At the symposium, he read a report “The Philermo Icon of the Mother of God and Contemporary Challenges to Christianity,” which contains the words: ... joint veneration by modern Orthodox and Catholics of the great shrine of the ancient undivided Church can contribute to the continuation of the dialogue between the two Churches.

At the same time, it was decided to establish a Russian parish in Malta, but it was only fully formed in 2003. The parish received the name of the Apostle Paul, and Archpriest Dimitry Netsvetaev was appointed rector.

In 2004, the “Suffering Church” conference was held on the island, in which Bishop Hilarion (Alfeev), as well as representatives of the Antiochian, Czech, Romanian and American Orthodox Churches took part. The bishop delivered a report on “Persecution of the Russian Orthodox Church in the 20th Century” and performed a divine service.

2007 in Malta was declared the Year of the Russian Language. The official opening took place yesterday Orthodox Christmas in that same Russian chapel.

Orthodoxy in Malta is connected not only with the Slavs, but also with the Greeks. Malta is included in the title of the Archbishop of Italy of the Patriarchate of Constantinople.

On April 24, 2014, the Maltese government allocated a 10-acre plot of land for the construction of a Russian Orthodox church in honor of St. Paul the Apostle in the city of San Zhvan not far from the Russian Embassy. Currently, funds and donations are being collected for the creation of the first Russian Orthodox church.

Christian shrines of Malta

• grotto and holy spring of the Virgin Mary (in Milekh) next to the church where the fresco of St. Luka;
• St. Paul's Church on the shore of the island, just opposite the shipwreck;
• in the capital of Malta, Valletta, in the Temple of the Shipwreck of St. Paul, there are the greatest shrines: the right hand of the Apostle Paul (in one of the chapels of the temple) and part of the Roman column on which the honorable head of the Supreme Apostle and martyr for Christ was beheaded by the pagans (located in the altar);
• in the small town of Birkirkara in the parish church of St. Helena contains the relics of Saint Helen Equal to the Apostles, mother of St. Emperor Constantine the Great, who found and returned to the world the Honest and Life-Giving Cross of the Lord;
• in Rabat, next to the catacombs of St. Paul, you can visit the catacombs of St. Agatha - one of the early ascetics and martyrs for Christ. After she refused to renounce the Lord, the Roman pagans killed Saint Agatha by beheading. Places of residence of St. Agates are known for special grace and miraculous healings;
• in a small Orthodox church in Valletta, in the altar there is one of the original shrines Orthodox world- icon of the Mother of God of Damascus. According to legend, she is related to St. John of Damascus, in iconography and in the time of production it is very close to our Vladimir, and in type - Elius ("Tenderness"). During the time of Turkish persecution of Christians, the icon was brought by the Greeks from Fr. Rhodes to Malta;
• Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Valletta, which also houses many relics of Christianity, including miraculous icon Our Lady "Mammal" in the altar of the temple, also, according to Tradition, written by St. Luka.

5200 BC The appearance of man in Malta
3200 BC Construction of megalithic temples
2000 BC Invasion of the Bronze Age peoples
800 BC Colonization by the Phoenicians

Ancient civilizations

900 BC Beginning of the Iron Age
480 BC Power of Carthage
218 BC Power of Rome after the Punic Wars
60 AD Saint Paul is wrecked off the coast of Malta

Arabs

395 Byzantine rule in Malta
870 Arab capture of Malta

Normans and the Middle Ages

1090 Norman rule
1194 Swabian rule
1266 Angevin rule
1283 Occupation of the Aragonese people
1350 Establishment of the Maltese aristocracy
1397 Establishment of a university
1485 Death of Peter Caxaro

Knights of St. John

1530 The Order of the Knights of St. John arrives in Malta
1561 Establishment of the Inquisition
1565 Great Siege of Malta by the Turks
1566 Valletta founded

French people

1798 Napoleon Bonaparte recaptures Malta from the Knights
1799 British capture of Malta
1800 French surrender
1802 Peace of Amiens

English

1814 Malta becomes a British Crown Colony
1914-1918 First World War
1919 Sette Guigno - rebellion against British rule
1921 Amery-Milner Constitution granting self-government
1930-1939 Turbulent period of intermittent self-government
1939-1945 World War II
1947 Restoration of self-government

Malta today

1964 Independence of Malta in the British Commonwealth
1974 Malta becomes a republic
1979 Last British troops leave Malta
1990 Malta joins the European Union

Prehistoric period

5200-4000 BC
The Maltese Islands are rich in archaeological sites and artefacts, proving that these places contained some of the earliest human settlements in the world. Despite this, little is known for certain about the beliefs and organization of these prehistoric societies.

The megalithic temples of Malta and Gozo and the hypogeum of Hal Saflini are declared world cultural heritage sites. They are equally interesting to tourists and archaeologists.

Man lived on the islands approximately one and a half thousand years before the construction of megaliths began. The earliest signs of human presence in Malta date back to the Neolithic period - 5000 BC. Evidence of New Stone Age human life has been found in Ghar Dalam, a cave near Birzebbuga in southern Malta. Fossilized bones of numerous animals, such as dwarf elephants, were discovered in the cave. This proves that Malta, some time ago, was a link between the European and African continents.

When man arrived on the islands, their dense forests, inhabited by numerous animals, were different from the dry, rocky terrain that can be seen now.

However, these ancient farmers had to bring with them everything they needed to survive, from livestock to grains.
Having moved from Sicily, these people accomplished a great feat. They made more than one journey on ships that, in all likelihood, were slightly larger than a raft. Such voyages could only be made a few times a year, weather permitting, so the early settlers were not only skilled farmers, but also had to be adept at seafaring.

The main prehistoric site was discovered at Skorba, in the north of Malta. Here we can learn more about their life: fragments of pottery similar to those found in Sicily were discovered here. These cave farmers seem to have maintained a connection with Sicily - obsidian, volcanic rock, and flint continued to be imported to Malta for tool making. But we have no evidence that a cultural connection between the islands existed.

These Neolithic farming communities had their own religious beliefs. In the so-called "Shrine of Sorrow" fragments of the first images of man were found: figurines of women demonstrating faith in the goddess of fertility or being a symbol of fertility.

The future fate of these farmers is unclear. Around 3500 BC new people, probably also from Sicily, arrived and took the place of Neolithic man in Malta. We know them as the people whose beliefs inspired the megalithic temples of Malta and Gozo.

Key dates in Malta's prehistory

Before 5200 BC – The appearance of man in Malta
Around 3600 BC – Construction of megalithic structures
Approximately 2500-2000 BC – End of the period of construction of megalithic temples
Around 2000 BC – First invasion of peoples using bronze
Around 1400 BC – Second invasion of peoples who used bronze
Approximately 900-750 BC. – The end of the prehistoric period. Arrival of the Phoenicians

Temple builders

Approximately 3600-2500 BC.
Approximately 5500 or 4500 years ago, the Maltese Islands were inhabited by an inventive and intelligent people. The islands provide evidence of the unique phenomenon of megalithic temple construction.

The lives and beliefs of these ancient Maltese are shrouded in mystery, but they left us evidence of their lives and level of skill: an impressive number of complex structures that still exist today.

The Ggantija Temples in Gozo are considered to be the oldest free-standing monuments in existence in the world. They were built a thousand years earlier than the Great Pyramid of Cheops in Egypt and Stonehenge in southern Britain. The Hypogeum of Hal Saflini at Paola is a labyrinth of stone-cut passages and chambers, a great display of prehistoric architectural genius. This is the only underground temple and cemetery of its kind in the world.

Other temples, such as Hagar Qim, Mnajdra and Tarxien, and a dozen others, seem to support the theory that Malta was a "sacred island" - a center of worship and mystical activities of the region's prehistoric society.

The new people who came to the islands after Neolithic man were probably from south-eastern Sicily. We find tombs carved by them from stone at Zebbug and Xemxija in Malta, and at Xaghra in Gozo. These tombs had 3 parts or were in the shape of a trefoil, this shape was further developed and used in the main temples. These catacombs were, in all likelihood, the predecessors of such huge underground complexes as the Hypogeum. Although this site and smaller rooms in Shar are the only valuable finds discovered to date.

By the time of the construction of Ggantija, these farmers had developed a new cultural system in complete isolation and without any outside influence. Although these people maintained contact with Sicily, their ancestral homeland, and traveled for trade with the other Italian islands of Pantelleria and Lipari, there is no evidence of any cultural exchange. Their temples and beliefs are unique.

The temple culture mysteriously disappeared around 2500 BC. No one knows whether these people died out, were conquered by invaders, or simply left the islands. They were replaced in the Bronze Age by peoples from different parts of the Mediterranean.

Romans

The Roman period plays an important role in the history of the islands. During this time Christianity was introduced, the future of Malta became inextricably linked with the fate of the European continent.

Before coming to Malta, the Romans needed to conquer their enemies - the Carthaginians (the western Mediterranean branch of the Phoenicians). The Carthaginians threatened the rise and dominance of the Roman Empire. During several wars known as the Punic, between 264 and 146 AD. BC, the Romans took control of Malta. The islands became a free municipality of the Roman Empire.

The times of Roman rule became a period of prosperity for Malta. The islands began to be mentioned in written documents. The Roman senator and orator Cicero spoke of the importance of the Temple of Juno on Melita and the extravagant behavior of the Roman governor living in Sicily. The shipwreck of St. Paul, which occurred in 60 AD, is described in the Bible. Although the villas, temples, and baths found here indicate relative stability and prosperity, the islands remained a remote Sicilian settlement.

At the end of the 19th century, near the cities of Mdina and Rabat, a Roman house from the first century was found, today called the Roman Villa Museum. In it you can see several types of mosaic floors, marble statues, some of which depict members of the ruling dynasty.

Rabat has two sets of catacombs used during Roman rule in Malta: St Agatha's catacombs with frescoes, and St Paul's catacombs where the apostle is said to have lived. The Romans didn't seem to mind the variety of religions in the area. In the Catacombs of St. Paul, dating back to the 4th and 5th centuries, several symbols of the Jewish menorah (seven-branched candlestick) were found carved in stone.

Another important site dating back to the Roman era was found near Birzebbuga in south-east Malta. A huge tank with a volume of about 10 cubic meters was discovered here. meters. As in other Roman sites, an olive press was also found here. The frequent appearance of such implements shows that during Roman rule the production of butter in Malta reached significant volumes.

Several oil lamps on display at the Roman Villa have Christian symbolism, such as the first letters of the name of Jesus Christ in Greek.
After the collapse of the Roman Empire at the end of the 4th century, the Maltese Islands were almost forgotten in Byzantine period under the control of the Eastern Roman Empire This period lasted 375 years until the African Berbers, spreading Islam, captured the islands in 870 AD.

Saint Paul in Malta

Christianity in Malta has existed for almost 2000 years. According to legend, the Apostle Paul himself brought this faith to the islands around 60 AD.
Paul was being taken to Rome to be tried there on charges of mutiny, but the ship on which he was sailing along with 274 passengers was caught in a terrible storm and crashed off the coast of Malta 2 weeks later. All people on board were able to swim to shore.

The site of the shipwreck is traditionally called St. Paul's Island, and is marked by a statue that serves as a reminder of the event.
The greeting to the survivors is mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles (XXVII) of St. Luke, after which these people learned that the island was called Melita.
The barbarian people showed us kindness: they lit a fire and received us all. The word "barbarian" shows that these people spoke neither Greek nor Latin. The ancient Maltese language is derived from Phoenician.

When the fire was lit, Pavel was bitten poisonous snake, but he was not injured. So the islanders thought he was special. This scene is depicted in many religious works of art made on the islands.

According to tradition, the apostle took refuge in a cave now known as St. Paul's Catacombs in Rabat, Malta.
During the winter he was invited to the house of Publius, the Roman governor of the islands. It was here, according to legend, that Paul healed Father Publius of a serious fever. It is believed that Publius later converted to Christianity and became the first bishop of Malta. The Cathedral of Mdina is said to stand on the site of the house of Publius.

Whatever the legend, archaeological evidence suggests that Malta was one of the first Roman colonies to convert to Christianity.

Key dates - Ancient civilizations

Around 750 BC – Arrival of the Phoenicians
Around 480 BC - Carthaginian period
Around 256 BC - Malta is attacked by the Romans
Around 218 BC – Malta is captured by the Romans
41 BC – The Maltese were granted the privileges of self-government
60 AD – The Apostle Paul was shipwrecked near Malta
395 AD - Division of the Roman Empire

Arab occupation

Arabs 870-1090
As is the case with all who call Malta home, we can trace traces of Arab heritage in these places. They left their mark on the Maltese language and in the names of many towns and villages in Malta and Gozo, for example Marsa, Mdina, Mgarr, Mqabba, Ghajnsielem, Rabat ), Shara (Xaghra), Zejtun, Zurrieq. Despite this, little evidence of their presence was found, with the exception of a few excavated gravestones.

In Malta they introduced several crops, including cotton and citrus fruits, as well as innovative agricultural technologies such as irrigation.

Fields with a clear structure are one of the ancient Arabic techniques. Many delicacies of modern Maltese cuisine, like those of neighboring Sicily, have Arabic roots - figs, almonds, sweet pastries, spices.

The Arabs, like the Romans before them, viewed Malta as a remote Sicilian settlement. They seemed to be relaxed about the religious beliefs of the islanders. But pursuing primarily military goals, they occupied and expanded the old Roman fortifications, which later became known as Fort St. Angelo and the city of Mdina.

Arab rule in Malta came to an end after a long struggle with the Normans who came from Sicily. The Normans recaptured it from the Arabs after a 30-year struggle. Count Roger secured the Maltese Islands for the Normans in 1090. From this time, throughout the Middle Ages, the fate of the islands was associated with European nobility and members of royal families.

Middle Ages

870 Arab invasion
1048 Byzantines attempt to regain control of Malta
1091 Norman invasion
1194 German princes rule Malta
1266-1283 Angevins (French)
1283 Aragonese rule begins
Around 1350 Establishment of the Maltese nobility
Around 1400 Establishment of local government
1417 Earliest list of militia in Malta
1429 Pirate attacks on Malta
1485 Death of Pietro Caxaro - author of the ballad - the earliest account written in the Maltese language
1530 Arrival of the Knights

Knights of the Order of St. John

1530-1798
It is hard to miss evidence of the Knights' legacy in Malta. They gave the islands one of the most famous symbols in the world - the eight-pointed Maltese cross.
No era has left such a mark on the islands as the 250-year reign of the order. Everything from everyday events to brave battles is recorded in the archives, architecture and folklore of the Maltese Islands.

To trace the Knights' journey, start with the places where they lived: the Three Cities, Fort St Angelo, Valletta, the baroque fortified city they built.
You will feel their presence as you walk through their palaces, courtyards and gardens.
Throughout the islands one can find evidence of their presence, reflected in military buildings and architectural masterpieces: forts, bastions, observation towers, aqueducts, churches and cathedrals. It is impossible not to note the rich heritage that they left to the islands: works of art, furniture, silverware, sculptures. Less obvious, but no less important, is the place they have given Malta in medicine.

Their Sacra Infermeria in Valletta was the best hospital in Europe.
The golden era in Malta's history is, of course, the period when the islands were ruled by the Knights of St. John. The Knights brought Malta onto the international stage. This era begins in 1530, when Emperor Charles V granted the Knights of Malta the Islands in exchange for a nominal fee of one Maltese falcon per year.

When the order's galleys arrived at the port, later called Grand Harbour, the islands entered new era, which changed their fate forever. Over the next 250 years, Malta played an important role in events that changed life throughout the region. Chief among these was the famous Great Siege of 1565, which ended the danger posed by the Turks to Christian Europe and ushered in the rebirth of Malta.

Under the control of the Knights, Malta underwent significant changes, new cities appeared, and impregnable fortifications were erected. Malta also became a center of trade and commerce and entered an era of flourishing arts.

The brilliant era of the Knights of St. John came to an abrupt end in 1798, when Grand Master Ferdinand von Hompesch surrendered to Napoleon Bonaparte. However, the legacy of the Knights has survived them and is reflected in numerous masterpieces of art and architecture throughout Malta, especially in Valletta and the Three Cities.

Great Siege of 1565

If the Great Siege had not happened, it would still have been invented for some epic film. There are few historical events, capable of competing with her in heroism, bloodshed and military strategies. You can quote from Voltaire, where he says: “Nothing is better known than the siege of Malta.”

The story of the Siege is closely intertwined with the story of two rivals, the aging Grand Master Jean Parisot de la Valette and his contemporary the barbarian corsair Dragut Reis, who commanded the fleet of Sultan Suleiman the Great. It is also the story of thousands of lives of Maltese inhabitants, soldiers and Knights of St. John.

For several years leading up to the Siege, the islands were under constant threat from the Turks. In 1551, the Turks carried out a daring raid, after which almost the entire population of Gozo was captured and taken into slavery. In 1559, the Knights responded with an attack on the Turkish fortress of Djerba on the coast of Tunisia.

The knights knew that they were vulnerable in Malta, despite the harbors and two forts: St. Angelo, where Vittoriosa now stands, and Fort St. Elmo, newly built on the open peninsula of Mount Sciberras, which overlooked the harbors (later known as the Grand Harbor (Grand Harbour) and Marsamxett Harbour.

Grand Master La Valette did everything possible to strengthen the defenses and requested additional troops from Emperor Charles V, the Pope and Viceroy of Sicily.

But no help came. In May 1565, a huge Turkish fleet of 40,000 men besieged the islands. There were much fewer knights, 700 or so, and approximately 8,000 Maltese soldiers. The islanders took refuge in the fortified cities of Mdina and Birgu (Vittoriosa), destroying crops and poisoning wells along the way.

The Turks decided to attack first the isolated Fort Saint Elmo on the Sciberras Peninsula, as it occupied a dominant position between the two harbours. Repeated attacks lasted 36 days, but the small garrison of knights held out in the fort much longer than Suleiman's men expected. After 3 weeks they finally captured the fort with 8,000 casualties. Dragut was mortally wounded during the capture of St. Elmo. Led by Pasha Mustafa Turkish troops set their sights on Fort St. Angelo.

The Battle of Fort St. Angelo was one of the bloodiest episodes in this holy war. Over the next centuries, it became overgrown with legends. Pasha Mustafa ordered attacks on the walls of St. Angelo and the fortified Three Cities 10 times during the hot summer of 1565. Even on August 18, when most of the fortifications were destroyed, the Turks were unable to capture the fort. Vallett himself took part in the battle and, despite the slim chances of success, refused to accept the offer put forward by the Turks to surrender.

At one point in the battle, the Turks launched the headless corpses of captured knights into the water of the Grand Harbor. In response, Vallett ordered all Turkish prisoners executed and their heads used as cannonballs to fire on their compatriots at Fort St. Elmo.

By September the Turks were concentrating on how to stay in Malta for the winter and their morale began to fade. By this time, Valletta's long-awaited reinforcements had appeared in Mellieha Bay and captured territory inland. The Turks, almost trapped, retreated, losing thousands of men in the process.

The Great Siege ended on September 8, this day is now a public holiday - Victory Day (il-Vitoria). The end of the Siege had a double significance: the Knights of St. John inflicted serious losses on the Ottoman forces, and in addition, the magnificent capital of Malta, Valletta, was founded, named after the Grand Master Jean de la Valletta. Valletta was to become not only a fortress, but also a home to some of the finest examples of European art of the 16th and 17th centuries. Grand Master Vallett was buried in the city three years later.

Artists to knights

Once the threat from the Turks disappeared after the Great Siege of 1565, a “golden age” of culture and art began on the islands. The European aristocracy and papacy showered the Order of St. John with wealth and sent their best artists, architects and military engineers to help plan and build new capital Valletta and decorate the islands with works of art.

Over the next two centuries, the most skilled artists and sculptors in Europe arrived on the islands. In turn, Maltese artists and architects were encouraged and given the opportunity to study in Rome.

The construction of numerous churches, some expanded from small local chapels, others new churches and cathedrals built in the Baroque style, provided plenty of scope for the creativity of young or experienced artists. Maltese art and architecture were mainly representative of the Mediterranean Baroque and developed under the influence of the Italian style.

Mattia Preti

Mattia Preti from Calabria (1613-1699) is an artist whose name is associated with the decoration of Baroque churches. He decorated the vaulted ceiling of the Co-Cathedral of St John in Valletta, which depicts the life of the saint, and also decorated altarpieces and painted for parish churches throughout the islands. His work on the vault in St. John's Cathedral took five years. Other works by Preti are in the National Museum of Fine Arts in Valletta.

Preti lived in Malta for about 30 years, during which time he was accepted into the order. He became known as "The Cavalier of Calabria" (Il Cavalier Calabrese). Preti was not only an artist: he created the magnificent Baroque interior of St. John's Cathedral. The intricate stone walls are made in the form of Maltese crosses, coats of arms, gilded flowers and other signs and symbols. He also painted several altarpieces of the side churches.

Other works by Preti can be found in parish churches throughout the islands. Look for his work at the Church of St Lawrence in Vittoriosa.

Caravaggio

The most famous artist to work in Malta is Michelangelo Merisi, or Caravaggio (1571-1610). Caravaggio's work, billed as a "17th century painting", is called The Beheading of St John the Baptist, and was painted for and is now on display at the Cathedral of St John in Valletta. Another of his works, Saint Jerome, is also located here.

These works represent the main period of this artist’s work. His style, the use of shadows and rays of light (chiaroscuro distribution) created a certain drama in the object; this technique differed from traditional religious painting.

Caravaggio arrived in Malta in 1607 under dubious circumstances and left Rome to avoid punishment. He was wanted for murder.
However, in Malta, under the protection of his patrons, he was accepted into the Order of St. John. But his freedom from punishment lasted only a year. He was imprisoned at Fort St. Elmo and later escaped to Sicily, where he died two years later, still pursued by justice.

Grand Master Jean Parisot de la Valette

Jean Parisot de la Valette (1494-1568) - the most respected and famous of all the Grand Masters Order of Malta Knights of St. John. He is famous for his heroic character and qualities as a military strategist during the Great Siege of the Turks in 1565. His determination not to surrender no matter what convinced Malta, the knights and Christianity that the Turks were not a serious threat. During the Siege, he was already an elderly man: he was over 80 years old.

He was an outstanding and brave man in his youth. Valette, a French nobleman from Provence, joined the order at the age of twenty.
In 1541 he was captured and was for a year a slave in a galley of the barbarian corsairs under the command of Dragut Reis, the same one who later besieged Malta.

After the Great Siege, Vallet began building defenses on the islands, implementing his plan to build a city that would be both a fortress and a home for the Knights.

The city was an example of baroque culture and art. Valletta became one of the best cities of its time. The city plan was based on the "grid" principle (perpendicular streets), which was an innovation at the time and is considered a harbinger of modern urban planning.

Vallett was unable to see the city's construction completed. He died in 1568 at the age of 73 and was buried in the order's crypt in the Co-Cathedral of St John the Baptist. On his grave there is an inscription in Latin: “Here lies Vallet, worthy of eternal glory. He was the scourge of Africa and Asia, the shield of Europe, drove out the barbarians with his sacred hands and was the first to be buried in this city of which he was the founder.”

Knights of St. John

1530 Arrival of the order
1536 Publication of the earliest description of Malta
1552 Construction of Fort St. Elmo
1565 Great Siege
1566 The foundation stone of the city of Valletta is laid
1574 Visit of the representative of the Pope and the first Inquisitor to Malta
1615 Introduction of the aqueduct
1647 Publication of the first History of Malta written by a Maltese
1676 Founding of the School of Anatomy and Surgery
1693 Earthquake - destruction of Mdina Cathedral
1768 Jesuits expelled from Malta
1775 Revolt of the Priests
Late 18th century: construction of the library, their last significant structure
1798 Arrival of Napoleon

Valletta and the Baroque era

After the Great Siege, the Knights began an ambitious project, the construction of Valletta, known as "The City Built by Gentlemen, for Gentlemen." Pope Pius IV sent his distinguished architect Francesco Laparelli to build the city, which was to be both a fortress for the defense of Christianity and a masterpiece of art. As a unique example of Baroque architecture, Valletta has received the title of "World Heritage City".

In those days, Valletta served as an excellent example of planning. The city was planned so that the streets formed a grid (a system typical of the United States), allowing air to circulate freely and supplying water for drinking and sanitation. Most cities have grown and developed over the centuries, but Valletta, in contrast, was one of the first European cities to be built on a completely new site where there had been no previous settlements.

Francesco Laparelli left his Maltese assistant Gerolamo Cassar (1520-1592) to complete the construction. Cassar studied in Rome. The Cathedral of St. John is his best creation.

The magnificent Baroque interior was the last work of the knight and Calabrian artist Mattia Preti (1613-1699). The first Baroque buildings built in Valletta were the work of the Italian architect from Lucca, Francesco Buonamici, resident builder of the Knights from 1634 to 1659. He was assisted by the French military architect Floriani. He not only expanded the fortifications in the city of Floriana, but also designed churches for the cities of Rabat, Valletta and Zebbug.

Maltese architects

Gerolamo Cassar was one of the first Maltese architects to work for the Knights. Cassar designed the main buildings of Valletta - The Grand Master's Palace, the Co-Cathedral of St John, seven auberges for the order, a hospital (now known as the Mediterranean Conference Center) (the Mediterranean Conference Centre) and many ceremonies. Since he was a military architect, he designed fairly simple interiors and exteriors. He was convinced that the buildings of Valletta should correspond to the place where they were built - inside the bastions of the fortress.

Another Maltese architect who managed to reflect his own style of work, before the Baroque became dominant in the islands, was Tomasso Dingli (1591-1666). Dingley was a very prolific artist: he built several parish churches on the islands, namely St Mary's church in Attard, which he designed at the age of 22, and The Church of Assumption in Birkirkara .

Lorenzo Gafa (1630-1704) was the most important and famous architect of this period. His brother Melchior was a renowned sculptor of the Knights. Lorenzo Gafa, trained in Rome and influenced by Bernini's work, designed some of the most impressive Baroque churches in Malta.

His favorite style is the elegant domes and majestic interiors - a symbol of the Maltese Baroque. Among his best works are the Mdina and Gozo Cathedrals, the Church of San Lawrenz, Vittoriosa, the Church of St Nicholas, Siggiewi, and the parish church in Arba in Gozo. .

National flag of Malta- the legacy of the Norman Count Roger. In the fight against the Arabs, he tore his red and white checkered flag and gave half of it to the Maltese fighters.
Most historical works on Malta briefly describe the Middle Ages. Most likely because Malta played a minor role in the plans of the rulers relating to the neighboring and larger Sicily. But during this period the Maltese nobility arose, whose representatives built palaces in the walled Mdina. The city remained the territory of the small nobility for several centuries.

In this city, even today you can see beautiful examples of Sicilian-Norman architecture.
For the rest of the population, the Middle Ages were an era of poverty. The islands were often attacked by African and Turkish barbarian corsairs. The Maltese, especially the Gozoans (Gozitans), were taken into slavery.

The islands were ruled by many European nobles and nobles: German princes, French aristocrats and so on: the fate of Malta depended on marriages, treaties and alliances.

The marriage of Ferdinand of Aragon and Isabella of Castile in 1479 united Spain. Under the rule of their grandson, Holy Roman Emperor Charles V, the islands became part of the Spanish Empire. It was he who gave the islands to the Order of the Knights of St. John.

Maltese language

The Maltese language fascinates both tourists and linguists. The Maltese speak a unique language, the only language of the Semitic group, where words are written in Latin letters.

Over the centuries many foreign words, especially English and Italian, has become part of the language. English being official language, widely used in communication and business.

What is surprising is that the islanders were able to maintain their unique language, despite other languages ​​brought to their land by various rulers. Maltese was more of a spoken language until the second half of the 19th century, when its grammatical rules were deduced and written down.

The oldest written document in Maltese is a ballad written by Pietro Caxaro, who died in 1485. The knights tried to introduce writing in Maltese. The survival of the Maltese language is perhaps proof of the Maltese's ability to remain a distinct people with an individual culture.

The Maltese language is believed to be descended from Ancient Phoenician, whose speakers arrived in Malta in 750 BC.
The influence on the Maltese language of the Arabs who lived in Malta from the 9th to the 13th centuries is obvious. The roots of these two languages ​​are similar. Geographical names and numbers are the most obvious examples of Arabic influence on the language.

The strangest sound for students of the Maltese language is a sound close to the Arabic q - almost silent, but difficult to convey, a hard attack. If you are interested in learning Maltese, there are several language schools teaching the language on the islands.

French 1798-1800

The French reign over Malta was short and turbulent, although their arrival in 1798 was welcomed by the Maltese. The initial favor of the Maltese was due to greater dissatisfaction with the rulers of the islands - the Order of St. John, rather than adherence to the revolutionary ideas of France.

Napoleon Bonaparte's invasion of Malta was part of a strategic plan to conquer Egypt, capture India and the far eastern colonies of the British Empire. Wanting to control Malta's massive fortifications and harbors, Napoleon was able to lure some members of the order and the Maltese to his side.

They passed on information and were willing to help develop a popular movement against the Order of St. John and their aristocratic rule.
Lack of materials, traitorous captains, and general confusion led to the surrender of the order within a few days. The Maltese Islands became another jewel in Napoleon's crown.

The reforms introduced by the new rulers, according to local residents, were too radical, since people were still under the influence of the aristocracy and the church, and were loyal to them. The nobility and the common people began to perceive Napoleonic laws as an attack on their beloved church and a threat to their traditional way of life.

Within three months of the French seizure of power, the Maltese rebelled and forced the invaders to hide in the fortifications of Valletta and the Three Cities. They remained there until September 1800, when they capitulated to British troops intended to help the Maltese gain freedom. The British fleet entered the Grand Harbour, marking the beginning of a century and a half of British rule.

British era

British in Malta 1800-1964
The British era plays an important role in Maltese history. World wars and Maltese independence are the most important dates period. British heritage is evident in various aspects of life: English is the official language of the islands, Malta is united by tourist and economic ties with Britain, and on the streets you can see old-fashioned English post boxes and telephone booths.

After the British helped the Maltese expel the French from their lands, the Maltese themselves took power on the islands, but at first they were not sure whether they should keep this territory for themselves. According to the Treaty of Amiens in 1802, Malta was transferred to the Order of St. John, but some local residents did not want to return to the previous rulers and wanted to remain under British rule.

After this, the Napoleonic wars resumed, and the Peace of Amiens did not last long. The British committed themselves to the defense of Malta and gained full control over these lands thanks to the Treaty of Paris in 1814. Since then, Malta has become an important part of the British Empire, a strategic stronghold for the region and the first step towards the beginning of British expansion to the east.

During these intervals of peace and war, the fate of Malta was inextricably linked with the life of Britain. This became evident during the Second World War, when the islands played a major role in the fighting in the Mediterranean.

The Maltese Islands served as a supply point and recovery base for the wounded during the First World War, earning them the title of “nurse of the Mediterranean.”
The courage of the Maltese during the Second World War was appreciated by King George the Fifth, who awarded the entire population of Malta the George Cross for courage.
After the war, the self-determination movement grew stronger and Malta was finally granted independence on 21 September 1964. British troops remained in Malta until 31 March 1979, when their military bases there were closed. The islands became part of the British Commonwealth.

Key dates of the British era

1802 - Peace of Amiens
1813 - Plague
1814 – Treaty of Paris: Malta becomes an official British colony
1819 – Closure of local government (University)
1835 – First Constitution – Representative Council of Government
1837 – Freedom of the press
1840 – Council of Government with elected members
1849 – New Constitution
1881 - Executive Council - official body
1887 – New Constitution
1914-1918 – First World War
1919 – Sette Giugno uprisings
1921 – Establishment of self-government
1930 – Constitution suspended
1932 – Restoration of the Constitution
1933 – Malta returns to its 1813 status as a royal colony
1939-1945 – Second World War
1940 – First air attacks on Malta
1942 – Receipt of the St. George Cross
1947 – Restoration of self-government
1961 – Provisional Constitution
1964 – Malta becomes sovereign independent state within the Commonwealth. Malta is a member of the United Nations.
1974 – Malta becomes a republic
1979 – Last British troops leave the Maltese Islands

British heritage

The highlight of the Maltese Islands lies in their Mediterranean charm and climate combined with Anglo-Saxon traditions.
Malta was part of the British Empire for more than 150 years, so it is not surprising that business, laws and education have a British flavor. Today one can find much evidence of Mediterranean "Britishness" in the daily lives of the Maltese.

English, along with Maltese, is an official language. It is widely used in communication. But English, like other languages ​​such as Italian, has seriously influenced spoken Maltese. The Maltese jump from language to language when speaking.

Walking around the capital, Valletta, you can come across many shops and cafes with British names that were built in the middle of the last century. Visitors are always surprised and delighted by old-fashioned red British post boxes and telephone boxes, although they have long disappeared from British streets.

Driving here is on the left, just like in Britain. Along the road you can see many old British cars: Morris Minors, Ford Anglias and Prefects, Triumphs, Bedford trucks and buses built in the 50s and 60s , 70s. Many of them are still used as transport on a daily basis, some of them "walk" vintage models only on special occasions.

Maltese cuisine has also adopted some British elements, with local bars and cafes serving English breakfast and brunch. Beer here, as in Britain, is the drink of choice and is sold by pints and half-pints rather than by the liter.

Malta today

In 1964, Malta gained independence. 10 years later, in 1974, it was declared a republic within the Commonwealth.
Until the 1960s, Malta's economy was largely dependent on Britain and its naval shipyards.
After independence, tourism and industry began to develop rapidly, and today Malta and Gozo have developed an economy based on industry, services and a thriving tourism sector. Malta applied for EU membership in 1990.

Malta in World War II

The period of the Second World War, along with the Great Siege of 1565, is the most documented in the history of Malta. The strategic location of the islands made them a central stage in the war in the Mediterranean: it was the main fortification from which the Allies could continue their North African campaign and from which they could attack the Italian mainland.

Before this, the islands were subjected to heavy bombing, one of the most brutal of the entire war. The Maltese were the only people to receive the George Cross, Britain's highest award for bravery. But by the end of the war, the Maltese lands were devastated: Malta went through the heaviest bombing (within 154 days, 6,700 tons of bombs were dropped on it).

The British were unsure whether they could support or defend Malta. Although it was an excellent strategic position, it was difficult to defend. First Lord of the Admiralty Winston Churchill decided that Malta was important in terms of war plans and provisions.

Malta entered the war unexpectedly and abruptly. The day after Mussolini declared war on 10 June 1941, Italian bombers attacked Valletta and its harbours. The British had only 3 biplanes on the islands: Faith, Hope and Charity. A restored Vera biplane can be seen at the National War Museum, Fort St Elmo, Valletta.

Malta became a base for allied attacks on enemy ships traveling along the trade routes in North Africa, as well as to Italian air and sea bases. Therefore, the islands were under constant fire. As Churchill predicted, Malta was important in minimizing the effectiveness of the North African attack. But Malta had to pay too high a price for this.

Enemies always watched what was happening on the islands. Bombers stationed in Sicily would subdue Malta, Malta's record for most bombings was recorded in 1942 and is known as "The Siege of Malta": the 20th century military version of the events of the Great Siege of 1565. From April until the end of summer that year, the islands were pushed to cross the line and capitulate.

By some miracle, the convoy, with provisions, or rather, what was left of it, arrived in the Grand Harbor on August 15. The badly damaged oil tanker Ohio and several warships with remaining provisions on board saved the islands from starvation and the need to surrender. The ships were named “The Santa Maria Convoy”, as August 15 is a religious holiday in honor of the Virgin Mary.

In 1943, Malta became a springboard for the invasion of Sicily and the attack on Italy. The Italian fleet capitulated on September 8, the same day 378 years ago that the Great Siege ended.

By the end of the war, the islands were economically and physically devastated. In 1947 they received £30 million for reconstruction. But it took several decades and further restoration work, after British troops left Malta in 1979.

Metropolitan Kirill celebrated the first Orthodox Liturgy in Malta in the Church Slavonic language

According to the Communication Service of the Department for External Church Relations (DECR) of the Moscow Patriarchate, DECR Chairman Metropolitan Kirill (Gundyaev) of Smolensk and Kaliningrad was on a visit to the Republic of Malta from January 23 to 27 (2001 - note MaltaVista.ru).

On Tuesday, January 23, at the Malta International Airport, Metropolitan Kirill was met by the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Russia to the Republic of Malta S. S. Zotov.

On the evening of the same day, a meeting between Metropolitan Kirill and representatives of the Russian community of the island took place at the Russian Embassy in Malta. In a conversation with compatriots, Vladyka told those gathered about the life of the Russian Orthodox Church, about the problems and trials that had to be faced over the past century. Noting that for any people the most important factor determining its national identity is its faith, Metropolitan Kirill called on the Russian people living in Malta to carefully preserve their national and cultural foundations, the spiritual basis of which is Holy Orthodoxy.

At the suggestion of the Russian Ambassador S.S. Zotov at the meeting, it was decided to create a Russian in Malta Orthodox parish. His pastoral care has been entrusted to the rector of the Church of the Resurrection in Tunisia, priest Dimitri Netsvetaev.

On January 24, in front of a large crowd of worshipers, Metropolitan Kirill celebrated the first Orthodox service in the history of Malta. Divine Liturgy in Church Slavonic. At the end of the service, Vladyka Metropolitan warmly congratulated those present on this significant event and wished blessed success and God's help in the development of the spiritual life of the newly formed parish.

On the same day, Metropolitan Kirill got acquainted with the sights of Fr. Malta, among which the most significant are the places associated with the stay of St. Paul the Apostle on the island.

During his stay in Malta, Metropolitan Kirill took part in an international symposium on the topic: “The Venerated Philermo Icon of the Mother of God and its place in art, history and religion,” which took place in the capital of Malta, Valletta.

The symposium was convened on the initiative of the Russian Embassy in Malta and brought together a significant number of scientists, politicians, diplomats, and clergy from Russia, Italy, Yugoslavia, Malta and other countries of the world. This event was held under the honorary patronage of the country's President G. de Marco, who warmly welcomed the forum participants in his opening speech.

The opening of the Symposium was preceded by a solemn ceremony of donating to the Maltese state an exact copy of the Philermo Icon of the Mother of God, made by the Serbian icon painter Deacon Predrag Milosavic and brought to Malta by the representative of the Serbian Orthodox Church, Metropolitan Amfilohije of Montenegro and Littoral.

The participation of two prominent hierarchs of the Russian and Serbian Orthodox Churches in the event held in Malta is not accidental, since the history of the Philermo Icon of the Mother of God is closely connected with Malta, Russia, and Yugoslavia.

According to legend, this miraculous image was painted by the holy Apostle and Evangelist Luke. The icon was transferred through Antioch and Jerusalem to Constantinople, from where it was taken by the crusaders after they captured the city in 1204. Once in the hands of the Knights of the Hospitaller Order, they transferred it first to Cyprus, then to Rhodes, and finally, in 1503, to Malta. Here she remained until 1798, when the Knights of Malta, expelled from the island by Napoleon, transported her to Russia. The following year, the Philermo Icon of the Mother of God, together with part of the Tree of the Life-Giving Cross of the Lord and the right hand of St. John the Baptist, was donated to the All-Russian Emperor Paul I. Since then, until the revolution of 1917, these priceless shrines were in Russia: first in Gatchina, then in St. Petersburg, Moscow, and finally again in Gatchina. During the years of revolutionary turmoil and the period of persecution of the Russian Orthodox Church, they were miraculously saved from desecration and transported abroad. Since the Maltese relics were the property of the imperial family, they were transported through Estonia to Denmark, where at that time the mother of the holy passion-bearer emperor Nicholas II, Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna, lived. After her death in 1928, the daughters of the Empress, Grand Duchesses Olga and Ksenia, handed over the shrines to the First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad, Metropolitan Anthony (Khrapovitsky), who transported them first to Germany, and then, in 1932, to Yugoslavia, where they became the property of the royal family Karageorgievich. After the attack fascist Germany against Yugoslavia and the defeat of the royal army, King Peter II, leaving the country, left the relics for storage in the Ostrog Monastery in Montenegro. After the war, they were removed from the monastery by members of the Yugoslav secret services, and since then traces of their whereabouts have been lost. Only in 1993, during a visit to Montenegro by His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Rus', the Maltese shrines, including the Philermo Icon of the Mother of God, were again revealed to the world.

In his speech at the symposium, Metropolitan Kirill drew attention to the fact that the path of the Philermo Icon of the Mother of God is a symbol of the history of European civilization, the history of relations between East and West, which over the past millennium have had both dark and bright pages, periods of war and peace, confrontation and mutual support. At the center of all these processes have always been the Orthodox and Catholic Churches, to which they belonged the main role in shaping the worldview of the peoples of Europe. What does the current appearance of the Philermo image of the Mother of God in Malta mean for Christians of the East and West in an era when, in the conditions of a secular world, the total onslaught of liberal ideology threatens to finally push religion out of bounds? public life? Answering this question, Metropolitan Kirill said that he sees in this event a sign of the times: the time has come for Christians to unite their efforts in the struggle to preserve the spiritual and moral foundations of European civilization. Now that relations between the Roman Catholic and Russian Orthodox Churches are going through the most difficult period since the Second Vatican Council, their joint defense of Christian values ​​is an area in which the two Churches can and should become natural allies and partners.

On the occasion of the international symposium dedicated to the Philermo Icon of the Mother of God, receptions were held in the Russian and Italian cultural centers in Malta in honor of the participants and guests of this forum.

At the end of the symposium, a concert of Russian and Western sacred music was offered to the attention of those gathered.