Niches in the Streets
Throughout streets on the Rock, there are many Niches with Religious Statues. They are witnesses of the Christianity in Malta. These Niches are mainly statues of Jesus or the Holy Mary. Along with the statue is usually a marble plaque that encourages watchers to say a prayer.
In the past, there were Niches on many streets and one on every corner in Valletta. People used to pray in front of them as a penitence after confessions at Church.
Most of the Niches were created for one of these reasons:
- From someone who went through a bad time and they came out of it (like the Niche of the Angel in Xaghra)
- From a whole town who was not touched by the plague (like the Holy Mary of Sorrows in Xaghra)
- The Niche of the Holy Mary in Ghajnsielem was created by a Captain who did not drown after a big tempest
These Niches have become part of the Maltese Folklore. They were the reason the Maltese Village Feasts had started in the first place!
Today, Niches remind us of the love the Maltese people had and still have for their Christianity. They also help the Maltese people to keep their Religion alive, especially at a time when religion and church attendance has seen a significant decline on the Rock.
Religious Sanctuaries in Malta
Religious Sanctuaries are considered Holy. People tend to visit them when they want to feel at peace and spend time praying. In Malta and Gozo there are three major Sanctuaries and it is easy to feel at peace in any of them.
There is one in Zabbar which is called the Zabbar Sanctuary Museum. It is opposite the town’s church. This museum is full of Religious Artefacts that date back to the Knights of St’Johns.
The most popular Sanctuaries include the one in Mellieha which is dedicated to the ‘Our Lady of Mellieha” and the one in Ta’ Pinu Gozo, dedicated to the ‘Our Lady of Ta’ Pinu’. Both Sanctuaries have a Shrine of the Holy Mary. They are both located in very peaceful areas of the village. The one in Mellieha has stunning views of Mellieha Bay, Comino and Gozo. And the Ta’ Pinu Sanctuary is on a hill where you can see breathtaking views of Gozo.
