St. Publius Parish Church

The Saint Publius Parish Church (Maltese: Knisja Arċipretali ta' San Publiju), also known as the Floriana Parish Church (Maltese: Knisja Parrokkjali tal-Furjana) is a Roman Catholic parish church in Floriana, Malta, dedicated to Saint Publius. It was constructed at several stages between the 18th and 20th centuries.

Saint Publius Parish Church
Knisja Arċipretali ta' San Publiju
View of the Church of St. Publius
35°53′32.8″N 14°30′17.4″E
LocationFloriana
CountryMalta
DenominationRoman Catholic
Websitewww.florianaparish.org
History
StatusParish church
DedicationSaint Publius
Consecrated20 March 1792
Relics heldSaint Publius
Architecture
Functional statusActive
Architect(s)Francesco Marandon (original design)
StyleNeoclassical
Years built1733–1768
1771–1792
1856–1861
1884–1892
1944–1950s
Groundbreaking2 August 1733
Completed19 January 1768
Specifications
Length164 feet (50 m)
Width106 feet (32 m)
MaterialsLimestone

History

The first stone of the Church of St. Publius was laid down on 2 August 1733 by Bishop Paul Alphéran de Bussan, in the presence of Grand Master António Manoel de Vilhena. The sacristy was completed seven years later and it began to be used as a small church by the inhabitants of the then newly built suburb of Floriana. Construction was complete by 17 January 1768, when the relic of Saint Publius was brought to the church.[1] The original design of the church is attributed to Francesco Marandon.[2] The church was originally part of the parish of St. Paul of Valletta.[3]

Drawing of the old church of Floriana as viewed from the rear in the 1850s

The façade of the church began to be rebuilt in 1771, and the dome was constructed in 1780. It became a vice-parish in 1776,[4] and the church was consecrated by Bishop Vincenzo Labini on 20 March 1792. It became a parish in March 1844, after a decree was issued by Pope Gregory XVI.[1]

The naves and an oratory were constructed between 1856 and 1861. A new façade was built by Nicola Zammit between 1884 and 1890. Two new bell towers were also built in 1889 and 1892. The church's interior was embellished in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.[1]

Part of the church's façade and its dome were destroyed by aerial bombardment during World War II, when it was hit by bombs on 3–4 March and 28 April 1942 and sixteen people were killed. The nearby Sarria Church became a temporary parish church until the Church of St. Publius was reopened on 10 December 1944. Reconstruction of the church was carried out by the architect Gustav Vincenti, and it was completed in the late 1950s. The interior was embellished in the following decades, being fully completed in the early 1990s.[1]

Ceiling frescoes

The church is scheduled as a Grade 1 national monument,[5] and it is also listed on the National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands.[2]

Architecture

The façade of the Church of St. Publius consists of a neoclassical portico topped by a triangular pediment, flanked by a bell tower on either side.[6] A statue of Christ the King stands on the top of the façade.[2] The church has a cruciform plan with a dome and a richly decorated interior.

The altarpiece showing the martyrdom of Publius dates back to 1773, and it is the work of Antoine de Favray and his pupil Filippo Vincenzo Pace. The ceiling is decorated by paintings depicting Saint Paul's shipwreck and his stay in Malta.[7] Several other paintings are also found in the church, including works by Giuseppe Calì, Emvin Cremona and many other artists.[8]

The titular statue of St. Publius was completed in 1811 by the sculptor Vincenzo Dimech.[4]

See also

References
  1. "Storja tal-Parroċċa tagħna". florianaparish.org (in Maltese). Archived from the original on 18 April 2016.
  2. "Church of St. Publius" (PDF). National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands. 27 August 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 May 2016.
  3. Scerri, John. "Floriana". malta-canada.com. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016.
  4. "St Publius Parish Church". Floriana Local Council. Archived from the original on 26 March 2016.
  5. "Parish church dedicated to St Publius, Floriana". Times of Malta. 15 September 2011. Archived from the original on 29 May 2016.
  6. Tanti, Christine. "Il-Furjana's Parish Church dedicated to Saint Publius". maltain360.com. Archived from the original on 29 May 2016.
  7. Rizzo, Victor J. (2010). Discover Floriana – Historic Walks in a Green City (PDF). Floriana: Din l-Art Ħelwa & Floriana Local Council. pp. 20–23. ISBN 9789990998092. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 May 2016.
  8. Guillaumier, Alfie (1987). Bliet u Rħula Maltin (in Maltese). Valletta: Valletta Publishing & Promotion Co. Ltd. pp. 189–196.
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