Mellieha

Nativity of Our Lady Parish Church

Mellieha was one of ten parishes mentioned in a document of 1436, but ceased to be a parish when the locality was abandoned for fear of Saracen raids. The sanctuary of Our Lady though, the oldest in Malta, remained a centre of devotion. Mellieha became a parish again in 1844. On the 5th September 1883, the Parish Priest, Rev Francis Maria Magri blessed the corner stone of the new church. Bishop Pietro Pace blessed the new church on 5th September 1897. It was consecrated by Bishop Mauro Caruana on the 18th February 1930. The main titular picture is by Giuseppe Cali and depicts the triumph of Malta and the knights over the Saracens in 1565.

Chapel  Dar il-Madonna

A private chapel in a newly built residence for the elderly.

Chapel  Ta' Qorqa

A private chapel nowadays restored lies at Marfa close to the Riviera Hotel. This chapel was never blessed.

Immaculate Conception tal-Ahrax

This tiny chapel is perched on the opposite side of the White Tower of De Redin on the cliff of the tip of the peninsula looking North. The present Chapel was built in 1961 after the previous one, deteriorated due to prevailing wind and sea spray. Legends abound explaining the reason for the chapel in such a forsaken place. The original titular by unknown painter done in 1730 is now at the Mellieha sanctuary.

Nativity of Our Lady

The Christian Brothers built a novitiate in Wied Zejtuna. Nowadays it is being used as a house for retreats. During the summer months, on Saturday Evenings, Mass is celebrated in the chapel of the centre for the people enjoying their holiday in the locality.

Nativity of Our Lady Sanctuary

This is the oldest Marian Sanctuary in Malta and is still a pilgrimage centre. Pope John Paul II visited it. As one comes closer, on an ornate archway outside there is an inscription in Latin and old Maltese: In you was the hope of our fathers. They hoped and you saved them.

According to tradition the image of the Madonna and Child in the sanctuary was painted over rock by none other than St Luke who was shipwrecked in Malta together with St Paul, so it was considered miraculous.

Another tradition related to this place tells us that in the year 409AD a group of bishops visited this small cave and when they saw St. Luke’s painting they decided to consecrate the place as a church.

Our Lady of Ransom Selmun

The only chapel dedicated to Our Lady of Ransom stood, till recent past, within Selmun castle built during the 18th century. On the 13th October 1792, the Monte di Redenzione founded an ecclesiastical living in this chapel, and Notary Francesco Mamo recorded this. Antoine Favray painted the altarpiece of the chapel. The people resident in the area used the Chapel in later years as a church, but when a British consortium took over the Palace and built a hotel near it, a new chapel was built nearby to replace the one inside, the titular by Favray being transferred there. Marriages may be held in the new chapel. The door to the entrance of the old chapel has the eight pointed cross of the knights carved in stone above it.

Sacred Heart

Chapel in 'Nuzzo' convent of the sisters of the Sacred Heart on the road to Selmun built in 1947.

St Agatha

A small Chapel of this dedication used to exist in a tower built during the time of the Knights of St John. The St Agatha tower (which is more commonly known as the Red tower because of its appearance), lies on a hill on the north side of Ghadira bay. A plaque above the main door of the tower dated 1649 declares that it was not a Sanctuary for those running from the law, (Non gode immunita ecclesia).