On Tuesday, the inauguration took place of the Neo-Byzantine Adoration Chapel, during a Solemn Ecumenical Celebration in the Basilica of St. George, Victoria, Gozo.
The inauguration took place in the context of the titular Feast of St. George, on the project of embellishment work on the paving and mosaic of the Neo-Byzantine Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament.
St George’s Parish said that the project, which is now fully completed, can be called “a project between two Jubilees,” because it was started in the years immediately after the Great Jubilee of 2000 and was completed on the threshold of the Jubilee of Hope of 2025.
The Parish explained that it was the Archpriest Mons. Giuseppe Farrugia, ”who at the opening of the Third Millennium of Christianity gave birth to this extraordinary and ambitious project in memory of the Great Jubilee of the Incarnation and the 17th Centenary of the Martyrdom of Saint George.”
The first stone was laid on April 23, 2002, liturgical Solemnity of Saint George, by the late Bishop Nikol G. Cauchi, on the occasion of his 50th priestly anniversary, and the building was completed some two years later and dedicated to the Holiness of the Crucifix, the Holiness of the Sacrament and Divine Mercy.
”The chosen architectural style – the Neo-Byzantine one – was to emphasise the connection of the Georgian community with our brothers of the Oriental Church, who worship Saint George the Megalomartyr so much, that history shows that his cult could came with the early Byzantine presence in our islands in the 6th century, and is revered as the Patron Saint of Gozo, the Parish said.
It was explained that for many years the chapel, designed by the Architect Vincent Centorrino, continued to be enjoyed on the Maltese limestone while being used as a place of worship for the Holy Crucifix as well as the Holy Sacrament held in the silver tabernacle, unique in its design because it evokes the ancient pyx that was found hidden in the 19th century in front of the Parish Church of St. George, and which is now exhibited in the Gozo Cathedral Museum. The Eucharist was placed in it for the first time in 2007.
”It was then, with the work of the current Archpriest Joseph Curmi that this project, conceived and started 22 years ago, came to its conclusion. In 2021 the contract was signed with the firm that was to beautify this chapel with the mosaic iconography. With the name of the main benefactor, the late Mons. Carmelo Scicluna, added those of many other Georgians who gave from their pockets and from their hearts to see this project come to an end,” the Parish said.
It said that the sacred art firm from Romania, Mozaicon, in the last two years and three months has done an exceptional job and with the mosaic art in the Byzantine style has turned this sacred place into a spiritual garden, a treasure of liturgical and theological art, where every image shouts: “Holy, Holy, Holy.”.
There were many workers and volunteers who collaborated in this project, where apart from the mosaic, work was also done on the stone, the marble, among others the cosmetic floor, the gilding, and special lighting to further emphasise the beauty of mosaic art.
In the Solemn Ecumenical Celebration on Tuesday, presided over by Cardinal Mario Grech, General Secretary of the Synod, the Bishop of Gozo Anton Teuma, the Apostolic Nuncio in Malta Savio Hon-Thai Fai sdb also took part , the Apostolic Nuncio in Morocco Alfred Xuereb, and Archbishop Emeritus Paul Cremona op. Representatives of other Christian Churches in Malta participated with them: Chaplain Andreas Kravchenko on behalf of Archimandrite Nikolaos Gongazde of the Greek Orthodox Church; Papas George-Alexandru Popescu of the Romanian Orthodox Church; and the Can. David Wright, Chancellor of the Pro-Cathedral of Saint Paul in Valletta, on behalf of the Anglican Communion.
Following the Vespers prayer of the Solemnity of the Body and Holy Blood of the Lord, with the reading of early texts of the Church Fathers on the Eucharist, a solemn procession was held through the streets of Victoria City with the Sacrament of Jesus led by the Bishop of Gozo.
It was accompanied by Eucharistic hymns by the La Stella Band, and various categories of the parish took part in it carrying laurel wreaths which were then placed at the feet of the Sacrament.
The procession ended in St. George’s Square with an act of consecration and worship of the whole community to the Eucharist, which was then transported to the tabernacle of the Neo-Byzantine Chapel for the first time after the project was completed.
Romanian artists and iconographers Alex and Anca Costenco were also present for the celebration, who in the last two years and more lived in silence and prayer in the middle of the Georgian community where they worked on these unique and priceless works.
Photos: Saint George’s Basilica / Sebio Aquilina