Local
Easter festivities in Malta draw to a close
By MaltaMedia News
Apr 11, 2007 - 10:55:09 AM

Easter festivities in Malta draw to a close on Wednesday as the island celebrates the feast of St. Gregory. The feast, which occurs on the first Wednesday after Easter Sunday, traditionally sees Maltese flocking to beaches around the island for the first swim of the year, weather conditions   permitting. 

The traditional St. Gregory Procession in Żejtun was also held, led by Archbishop Mgr. Paul Cremona for the first time. The procession was marked by the recital of the Saints’ Litany with celebrations continuing in the Żejtun Parish. Once celebrations in this Parish ended, the procession headed to the old Żejtun Church, where a concelebrated mass was held.

Although the Żejtun Parish is dedicated to St. Catharine it is often referred to as the St. Gregory Church specifically because of this traditional procession, held for the first time on the 12th March 1543 to mark the Saint’s feast.

At the time, the Catholic Church in Europe faced a great crisis, with Pope Paul III calling for reforms which were stalled by issues ensuing between Catholic kings.

In hope that universal peace and unity between the Kings would be reinstated Archbishop of the Maltese Diocese Domenico   Cubelles held a solemn procession from the Mdina Cathedral to the old Żejtun Church. This procession eventually joined Malta’s religious customs. Various beliefs about the procession’s origin spread as its main purpose was forgotten. These included the belief that the procession started in 1519 to mark the end of the plague in the island.

Aqra dan l-artiklu bil-Malti:
Attivitajiet ta’ l-Għid f’Malta jaslu fi tmiem - Apr 11, 2007 - 11:11:05 AM