Dear Non Maltese Residents welcome to Floriana

We, Maltese Florianites (inhabitants of Floriana) with open arms, and heart, bid you all, non Maltese residents, a warm and hearty welcome to our locality and embrace you as members of our communal family.

During these last years our locality (Floriana) underwent, and still is in, a demographic upheaval on a large scale. Many houses, apartments and other places of residence, for many years, were left empty or abandoned resulting in a derelict state, until, the fascination of Floriana dawned on many estate agents who are now vying with each other as to who can acquire most of these properties and renovate, sell or lease to you. It is an honour, and our pleasure that you chose Floriana to be your new home, for that we thank you. As parishioners, it is pertinent to inform you about certain activities that will take place in this community that now you’re part off, and also, some historical notes.

Every year, on the third Sunday after Easter (that is 15 days after) our locality, and that includes you, celebrates the annual feast in honour of St. Publius. Publius was the Headman (Protos) of the island when in A.D.60 (Malta was under Roman rule) St. Paul was shipwrecked on our shores on his way from Cesarea to Rome. Publius, than a pagan welcomed and entertained at his residence Paul and all those that were on the vessel, 276 in all. St. Luke, the Evangelist, gives a vivid, and detailed description of this episode in the whole of chapter 27 and from verses 1 to 10 in chapter 28 of his ‘Acts of the Apostles’.

The tempest that brought Paul, the ‘Apostle of the gentiles’, so unexpectedly and furiously on this island is deemed to have been a providential one and that, enhanced by the episode of the viper that bit Paul’s hand without him suffering any harm, and the miracle, performed by Paul, when he healed Publius’ father who was sick with fever and dysentery, were the foundation stones on which Paul continued to build by preaching and proclaiming Jesus Christ as the true Living God. Paul’s teachings were ardently taken up by Publius and the rest of the inhabitants to the point were they converted to Christianity.

As he did in other places were new Christian communities were set up, Paul, after wintering here in Malta, and before proceeding on to Rome were he received his martyrdom, he proclaimed Publius as the new Pastor (Bishop) of the newly set up Christian community. It is interesting to note, that all this happened just 27 years after the passion, death and resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ. After serving for many years as Malta’ s Bishop, Publius was sent to Athens, in Greece to replace Throphimus who was martyred, a fate that befell Publius as well when he was thrown to the lions.

In 1610, Bishop Tommaso Gargallo proclaimed St. Publius as one of the 3 Patron Saints and Protectors of Malta, the other two being St. Paul and St. Agatha. As early as 1699, when Floriana, as a locality didn’t even exist, there already was a chapel dedicated to St. Publius built near a flour mill situated outside the walls of the city, Valletta.

The origins of Floriana date back to 1636, when construction of the Floriana lines commenced. The line of fortifications was built outside the fortifications of Valletta as an outer defensive line for the capital city. The lines were named after Pietro Paolo Floriani, the Italian military engineer who had designed them. The fortifications were partially defensible by 1640, but construction and modifications continued throughout the 17th and 18th century, being fully completed in the 1720s.

The area between the Floriana Lines and the Valletta Land Front began to be built up in 1724 when the Portuguese Grand Master, Antonio Manoel de Vilhena founded the suburb, also known as, Borgo Vilhena.

When the population started to increase the need for a bigger church was on everybody’s mind. The first stone of the Church of St. Publius was laid on 2nd. August 1733 by Bishop Paul Alphéran de Bussan, in the presence of Grand Master Vilhena. The sacristy was completed 7 years later and it began to be used as a small church by the inhabitants. Construction was complete by 17th. January 1768, when the relic of Saint Publius was brought to the church. The original design of the church is attributed to Francesco Marandon. The church was originally part of the parish of St. Paul of Valletta.

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, and the church was consecrated by Bishop Vincenzo Labini on 20th. March 1792. It became a parish in March 1844, after a decree was issued by Pope Gregory XVI.

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.

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.

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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.

On the occurrence of the annual feast this magnificent temple is fully decorated with riches befitting a Royal Palace thus rendering it as one of the biggest, most beautiful and richly decorated churches on these islands. It is a must that you pay a visit to this church.

The programme for this year’s feast, spanning from Sunday 8th. to Sunday 15th. April 2018 (both days inclusive) is as follows:

Sunday 8th.: At 10.00, a procession with the Blessed Sacrament will wind its way along the streets of Floriana, accompanied by the Vilhena Band playing Eucharistic hyms. At 11.00, a solemn mass will be said after which, round about 11:45 the artistic statue of St. Publius will be taken out of its niche, and bourne on the shoulders of 8 stout men, will be carried around in the church until it is rested on a mahogany dias and placed under one of the arches in the

main aisle for the admiration, and veneration of the people.

Monday 9th.: At 18:00, a mass dedicated to the children will be said followed by a demonstration outside, in the streets with a miniature statue of St. Publius being carried, and paraded by the children themselves. This event we call it, ‘Il-Festa tat-Tfal’ (The Children’s Feast). A small band and some fireworks will add to the merriment.

Tuesday 10th.: 18:00. A mass for members of all groups, religious and lay organisations that operate in Floriana.

Wednesday 11th.: 18:00 Singing of Evening Vespers followed by Holy Mass. After the mass, a Eucharistic celebration during which an orchestra and singers will perform music composed explicitly for this feast, over 100 years ago, by the composers, Maestri Bugeja, a musical dynasty of the 19th’ and 20th. Century.

Thursday 12th.: Between 18:00 and 20:00 the same as yesterday. After the church service, down at St. Anne Street, just in front of the Vilhena Band Club, the Band Big Friends Gugen Musik will perform a musical programme culminating in the hoisting of a statue of St. Publius onto a high pedestal.

Friday 13th.: Between 18:00 and 20:00 the same as yesterday. After the church service, a statue of St. Publius (not the titular one) will exit from the church and accompanied by the Vilhena Band will be carried, shoulder high around the streets of Floriana. The highlight of the evening will also be, the placing of the statue on another high pedestal this time in Conservatory Street.

Saturday 14th.: The eve of the feast

11:00 There will be a guided tour of the church, in English. This tour is aimed especially for Maltese and foreign visitors who are interested to learn more about the history and riches housed in this magnificent temple.

18:00 A procession with the relic of St. Publius exits from the chapel situated at the Police General Headquarters en route to St. Publius Church. On arrival, the evening prayers (vespers) will be sung followed by a solemn con celebrated Mass.

20:30 On a bandstand set up in front of the church the Vilhena Band will perform a musical concert.

Immediately after this concert, The Mechanised Ground Fireworks Festival will commence on St. Publius Square (The Granaries). This festival is organised by the Floriana Local Council and various Maltese fireworks factories take part in it.

Sunday 15th.: The Feast day

09:15 Pontifical High Mass celebrated by H.G. Archbishop Mons. Charles J. Scicluna. Also attending this Pontifical will be, the President of the Republic, the Prime Minister, Mr. Speaker of parliament, Leader of the Opposition, Ministers, Members of Parliament and other distinguished guests.

13:00 to 17:00 The traditional band march by the Vilhena Band that will go round the streets of Floriana amidst cascading confetti and a great amount of various items that are thrown from balconies onto the revellers.

18:45 The procession will start its way out from the church at the end of which, the majestic and artistic statue of St. Publius, a masterpiece carved in wood in 1811 by Vincenzo Dimech will emerge from the main door to the clapping of the crowds present, tolling of the church bells, band playing, aerial fireworks and confetti, thrown down from the cornice, high above the Portico. The procession will proceed forward through the streets of Floriana to return to the church round about 22:30. Even than throngs of people will be present to welcome St. Publius back to his church which, at this particular time will be filled to capacity. As soon as the statue enters the main door, the orchestra, singers and indeed all the congregation engage in the rendering of the popular antiphon ‘O Melitae Digna Proles’ (O Befitting Son of Malta). The imparting of the Benediction with the Holy Sacrament will bring this, another feast celebrated to the Glory of God and in Honour of our Patron Saint, to its joyful end.

We urge you to join in our traditions including that, for the feast days, you decorate your balconies with cloth material, lighting festoon and a picture, or any other image of St. Publius.

Therefore dear brethren, coming from wherever country throughout the world we welcome you to our Town and at the same time, embrace you as brothers and sisters hoping that your stay in our locality will be a joyous and eventful one through your participation in the feasts, celebrations and events that we hold throughout the year in our beloved Floriana.

Apart from the main feast, that of St. Publius, we celebrate also: On every 22nd. of January, the liturgical feast of St. Publius (church service only). For the Holy Week celebrations we have a complete full programme of the liturgical ceremonies that are held inside the church. As per outdoor events we have: A procession with the ‘Penitential Cross’ on Ash Wednesday. On the Friday preceding Good Friday another penitential procession in which the statue of ‘Our Lady of Sorrows’ will be carried through the streets. On Tuesday in Holy Week, another

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procession, this time with a very large Crucifix that from the church proceeds up to the Mall Gardens were the 14 stations of ‘The Way of the Cross’ will be meditated. During the month of June, two Eucharistic processions take place, namely, that of Corpus Christi (Body of Christ) and the ‘Sacred Heart of Jesus’. In October we celebrate the feast in honour of ‘Our Lady of Rosaries’, this occurrence brings with it yet another procession with a statue of Our Lady, under this title. The last event of the year will be the procession with an image of Baby Jesus organised by the Society of Christian Doctrine, commonly known as, M.U.S.E.U.M. This event is held on Christmas Eve.

As residents in this locality, you can also obtain services from the Parish Office, offices of the Local Council, Health Centre, Postal Services Sub Post Office, Police Station, and other Government Departments and offices.