Next weekend, Gozo will be commemorating the two victories of Malta – 1565 and 1943, during a ceremony which will be taking place on Saturday, the 7th of September in the Xaghra main square.

At 9.20am there will be a procession by the Armed Forces of Malta Band and a Guard of Honour will be formed to welcome the Prime Minister and President of Malta. The National Anthem will be played and the 11th President of Malta will be given the National Salute before inspecting the Guard of Honour.

At 9.45am there will be a Pontifical Mass at Xaghra Basilica led by the Bishop of Gozo Anton Teuma.

Following the Mass, starting at 11am the activities will move outside to the square, where there will be reenactments with the participation of locals, by the Xaghra Historical Reenactment Organisation, of the Great Siege of Malta 1565, the Black Plague of 1814 and and scenes from the Second World War in 1943.

Scenes include the triumphal entry of Grand Master Jean Parisot de la Valette and the Captain of the Order of St John accompanied by Knights and Maltese soldiers.

The Captain of the Order read out various proclamations by Grand Master Jean Parisot de la Valette.

One states that following the victory of the Knights and the Maltese over the invading army after a five month long siege in 1565, the Grand Master declared that the 8th day of September was to be remembered every year as the day of victory.

Another stated that the day was to be dedicated to Our Lady of Victory.

The ceremony will conclude with the laying of wreaths in front of the Great Siege monument, to be temporarily set up in Victory Square.

This commemoration event is organised by Xaghra Parish, in conjunction with the National and Regional Celebrations Committee within the Ministry for Gozo and Planning and Xaghra Local Council.

The end of the Great Siege of 1565 is commemorated on the 8th of September, this year marks the 460th anniversary of the Great Siege of Malta; the epic 1565 battle that made a legend out of a little island that, against all odds, withstood invasion from an empire.

The Great Siege of Malta commenced in May of 1565 when the Ottoman Empire began invading Malta, which was then occupied by the Order of the Knights of St John.

After several months of continuous battle and bloodshed the Siege came to an end on the 8th of September, a date that continues to be commemorated with the annual public holiday Il-Vitorja.

It also marks the end of the French occupation of Malta in 1800 and coincidentally, the armistice of the Fascist regime in Italy in 1943.

The connection with Malta in 1943 was two-fold – the bombardments by the ‘Aeronautica’ were over and the Italian Navy was brought to Malta to remain moored at St. Paul’s Bay until the end of the war.

Photos MGP: 2024 ceremony

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