Iż-Żejtun has long stood as a beacon of Malta’s rich cultural and spiritual heritage. This volume, born from a symposium organised by Wirt iż-Żejtun, gathers nine scholarly studies that uncover the layered history of the Old Parish Church of St Catherine and its community. From medieval origins to Baroque splendour, the contributions trace the church’s architectural, artistic, and devotional evolution, while highlighting its central role within Malta’s broader story.
Interdisciplinary in scope—spanning archaeology, history, art, architecture, anthropology, science, and conservation—the book delves into hidden passageways, restored artworks, and archival treasures. It reveals not only the resilience and devotion of past generations but also the care and commitment of today’s custodians.
A celebration of research and preservation, this publication invites readers to rediscover Żejtun’s sacred spaces and appreciate their enduring power to inspire.
The papers are the following:
- PRUDENS ET VIGILANS VIRGO CATHARINA – Gino Gauci
- A SMALL WORLD IN TRANSITION: THE CAPPELLA OF
SANCTA CATHERINA DE ZEYTUNI, 1400-1600 – Charles Dalli - THE STATE AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE PARISH CHURCH OF THE
CAPPELLA SANCTA CATHERINA IN THE HOSPITALLER PERIOD OF MALTA,
AS PERCEIVED THROUGH THE EPISCOPAL PASTORAL VISITS – Ray Gatt - A CULTURAL MATERIALIST ANALYSIS OF SAN GIRGOR: INVESTIGATING
THE EARLY PHASES OF DEVELOPMENT AND TRANSFORMATION OF THE
OLD PARISH CHURCH OF ŻEJTUN – Ruben Abela & Christian Mifsud - ANALYSIS OF SKELETAL REMAINS DISCOVERED IN THE HIDDEN
PASSAGEWAYS OF THE OLD PARISH CHURCH OF ST CATHERINE – Debra Camilleri & Matthew Grima - RECOVERY OF A PICTORIAL GEM – Anthony Spagnol
- CONSERVATION AND RESTORATION OF THE LATE RENAISSANCE
ALTAR PAINTING OF SAINT CATHERINE FOUND IN THE CHURCH OF ST
CATHERINE, ŻEJTUN: A CASE STUDY IN CONSERVATION AND CULTURAL
HERITAGE PROTECTION – Valentina Lupo - ECHOES OF THE BAROQUE: UNVEILING THE SECRETS OF TWO
POLYCHROME STATUES AND THEIR PRESERVATION – James Licari & Ingrid Ross - A MARTYRDOM FOR A TITULAR PAINTING: THE CASE OF THE TITULAR
PAINTING OF THE OLD PARISH CHURCH OF ST CATHERINE’S – Sandro Debono
This is the sixth collection of papers published by Wirt iż-Żejtun, with the first five being “The Żejtun Roman Villa”, “Turkish Raid of 1614”, “Discovering Southeast Malta”, “The Maltese Village” and “The Cathedral of the East”.
Editor: Ruben Abela
Publishers: Wirt iż-Żejtun
Specifications: 297 x 210 mm, 152 pages, full colour
Selling Price: €15
(NOTE: If you are from a foreign country please fill-in the form and thick the respective radio button. Do not proceed with payment as we will be replying back informing you about the postage charges. Thank you.)
Wirt iż-Żejtun 