Basilica of St. Peter and Paul (Nadur)

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Facade view

The Basilica of St. Peter and Paul is located in Nadur on the Maltese island of Gozo and belongs to the Diocese of Gozo , which includes the islands of Gozo and Comino . It is listed under number 1004 in the National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands .

history

The Legend of the farmer Girgor Buttigieg followed a prophecy and invited the foundation for the church on his ass. Without being asked, he climbed to the highest point of the village, where the church was then built.

In 1688 Nadur was raised to its own parish. At the site of today's church, which is the highest point in the city, there was already a smaller church and another previous building. The foundation stone for today's church was laid on September 28, 1760; the drafts for the church were created by the Maltese architect Giuseppe Bonniċi (1707–1779). The church was consecrated on May 12, 1867.

In 1907 the first renovation took place under Archpriest Martin Camilleri, with the side aisles, the dome and the facade designed by Antonio Sciortino (1879-1947) in the style of the Italian Renaissance .

On June 26, 1967 the church was opened by Pope Paul VI. raised to the minor basilica .

construction

The interior of the church is richly decorated with marble decorations, and the pulpit is also made of marble. The design for the stucco is also by Antonio Sciortino.

painting

The paintings of the dome and the ceiling depicting scenes from the life of Saints Peter and Paul were made by Lazarro Pisani (from Żebbuġ ). All 49 pictures were painted on canvas and cover over 300 m². The picture of the dome shows Peter and Paul together with Jesus Christ . The stitch caps show the missionary work in the four known continents at the time: Europe is represented by Emperor Constantine, who looks at the appearing cross, Africa by the preaching evangelist St. Mark , Asia by Francis Xavier , who baptizes a child, and America by Christopher Columbus , who sees the Pagans showing a cross.

The choir painting shows God the Father who created the sun and the moon, symbols of Peter and Paul. Further paintings in the choir show the triumph of the church and the missionary work of the Gentiles by the apostles Peter and Paul. There are also symbols of the church ceremony: cross , censer , chalice , missal , myron , olive and palm branches. Furthermore, six early Popes can be seen in the choir paintings: St. Clemens (Clemens I), St. Gregory the Great (Gregory I), St. Anaklet (Anaklet I), Leo the Great (Leo I), St. . Innocent (Innocent I) and Sixtus V and the Roman Emperor Trajan and Aurelius .

The painting in the right side chapel shows the miraculous salvation of St. Peter from prison by an angel, the triumph of the church and the popes, as well as the attributes of Peter (net, sail, anchor, wind and pole star as well as key, chalice, chain and martyr's crown). Furthermore, St. Theodorus (bishop in Syria), St. Egisippus, St. Hieronymus , St. Bernhard showing a picture of Jesus, St. Optatus and St. Hilarius are immortalized.

The left side chapel shows St. Paul in the Third Heaven in the presence of the Holy Trinity , who is surrounded by Seraphim and the prophets of the Old Testament . You can also see paintings of Adam and Eve in the chapel . The chapel is complemented by paintings on which the symbols of Peter can be seen: his severed head, sword, three fountains, Paul's letters and a trumpet. The opposite side of the painting shows scenes from Paul's preaching activity: a poisonous snake leaping out of the fire and a book. The painting is framed by angelic signs: laurel symbolizes wisdom, oak the severity, trumpet the sermon and a sword as a symbol for Paul. There is also a chapel painting with a crown, a symbol of the Holy Virgin Mary. Other paintings show Anselm von Nonantola , the martyr St. Dionysius of Paris , St. Thomas Aquinas , Beda Venerabilis , Cornelius a Lapide (a biblical commentator) and John Chrysostom .

The first ceiling painting shows the two saints preaching. While Paul speaks to the Roman people, Peter is absorbed in prayer. In the background you can see the Colosseum of Rome , Castor and Pollux temples and Roman senators in white togas . The painting is surrounded by angels with trumpets, torches, books and writings. There are paintings by Petrus Damiani and Pope Leo XIII between the windows .

The painting in the second section of the ceiling shows Peter praying, chasing away the devil. Around the scene people flee in fear. You can also see Emperor Nero with his courtiers and virgins escaping the fire. The image is bordered on the right by symbols of victory and prayer, on the left by symbols of witchcraft and a lightning bolt. Between the windows there are paintings of St. Ambrose , St. Augustine with his book De civitate Dei , St. Athanasius and St. Basil . The three-armed candlestick symbolizes the Holy Trinity, the two-armed candlestick the two natures of Jesus, the human and the divine. The painting in the third and last section of the ceiling shows Attila with his army on the way to Rome in front of Pope Leo I and his entourage. Attila stops when he sees the two saints walking towards him with drawn swords. The painting is bordered by four angels, one holding the basilica, the other holding the tiara - a symbol for papacy and church - another puts his sword back in its scabbard, the last one crushes a huge snake. Paintings of St. Avodius, St. Cyprian , St. Petrus Chrysologus and St. Prosperus can be seen between the windows .

The apse painting shows the two saints as judges of the world, together with representatives of Rome, Poland, France, England, the Holy Roman Empire of the German nation and the Orient as well as Malta. Next to Paul there is also the evangelist Luke with a picture of the virgin and the martyr St. Coronatus.

Other chapels and furnishings

Other chapels are: Franz von Paola Chapel, St. Martins Chapel, Redeemer Chapel, Souls-in-Purgatory Chapel, Anonius-von-Padua Chapel and St. Anna Chapel .

The architectural decorations are the work of the Italian Pio Cellini. The furnishings also include a statue of Saints Peter and Paul, which was carved in Marseille in 1882 . At the altar of Our Lady of Mount Carmel lies the skeleton of the second patron saint of the church, St. Coronatus.

Others

The patronage festival is from June 28th to 29th, which is also a public holiday in Malta. The parish has its own radio station, Radjuluminaria, and is the owner of the Gozo Maritime Museum.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. Knisja Parrokkjali ta 'San Pawl Pietru u San / Parish Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul. (PDF; 485 kB) In: National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands. Sovrintendenza tal-Patrimonju Kulturale, August 27, 2012, accessed on December 29, 2019 .
  2. ^ Brief History on the website of the Diocese of Gozo, accessed on January 7, 2017

Coordinates: 36 ° 2 ′ 15.7 ″  N , 14 ° 17 ′ 40 ″  E