Our Lady of Victory Church, the earliest church of Valletta and the first building to be constructed in the capital, has been placed in the care of Din l-Art Helwa; a heritage NGO founded in 1965, with the purpose of restoring the church, and managing it as a public attraction. This was announced by Parliamentary Secretary for Tourism, Culture and the Environment Dr Mario de Marco at a press conference held in the Church on Thursday 8th September 2011, the anniversary of the feast of the Victory over the Turks in 1565 and traditionally of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary.

Dr Mario de Marco underlined the importance of safeguarding Malta’s rich historic and cultural heritage, highlighting that historical gems such as the Our Lady of Victory Church are ingrained in Malta’s national identity and are inseparable from it. He stated that these national assets are invaluable, not only from historic, artistic and cultural points of view, but also as an inherent part of our tourism product, and our environment. Mario de Marco said that it is for this reason, that conservation of our heritage occupies a prominent place in the government policies for culture, tourism and the environment. It makes perfect sense to invest in the upkeep, restoration and management of these assets, and in doing so the role of voluntary organisations, such as Din L-Art Helwa is absolutely crucial, said Dr. de Marco.

Simone Mizzi, Executive President of Din l-Art Helwa, said that it was not by chance that the date 8th September was chosen to launch this momentous moment as the day marks two great victories for Malta over enemy forces in 1565 and in 1943. It was to be kept in mind that Our Lady of Victory Church was dedicated by Grand Master de Vallette to the Virgin in thanksgiving for his victory in the Great Siege. Din l-Art Helwa becoming entrusted with the care of a Church built by the Order of the Knights of St John represented yet another victory for Malta and indeed for Europe as yet another important piece of cultural and religious heritage was to be secured.

Din l-Art Helwa has campaigned with the authorities for several years in order that this important place of worship, full of historic and religious significance and its many artistic treasures, be granted recognition. Its cultural and religious dignity needed enhancing through restoration and improved accessibility. It is not news, continued Ms Mizzi, that the church has suffered from centuries of neglect, its vault badly shaken with the bomb blast that destroyed the neighbouring theatre, and subsequent water infiltration and rising damp over the years, adding that it was indeed a miracle of divine intervention that it can still be saved.

“The restoration of the Church has many difficult and sensitive priorities . There is the work on its monumental vault paintings depicting the life of the Virgin by Alessio Erardi, a Maltese baroque artist active between the late 17th and early 18th centuries that must be concluded. Their conservation were begun by work in 1998 commissioned by the Valletta Rehabilitation Project. There is also the restoration of its internal perimeter walls and their murals, the altars and many decorative structural elements. The choir and sacristy are in urgent need of disinfestation from termites as they are quite literally falling apart, the church organ needs to be reassembled and restored, and we would like to see the historic crypt where Grand Master de Vallette was first buried wholly integrated and secure. The church also holds many historic artefacts and documents many of which date back to the time of the Order of St John, and which need treatment. All this will be done in a phased programme of work which will ensure at all times that the status of the church as a place of worship is fully respected. Ms. Mizzi said that ‘we remain sensitive above all to the needs of many members of the public who pay short visits to the church to say a quick prayer as they start their normal working day.”

Din l-Art Helwa said it commends the Rector of the church Mons Anton Galea, who has looked after the church for so many long years, and Ray Bondin, who with the Valletta Rehabilitation Programme worked for this difficult project to be undertaken.

“Funding, of course, remains a huge challenge,” stated Ms Mizzi, “but Din l-Art Helwa has huge faith that the people of Malta and the business community will rally to our support as they have always done over the years. It has been support such as this that has permitted Din l-Art Helwa to carry out difficult challenges such as the restorations of the medieval frescos at Hal Millieri and Bir Miftuh, the mammoth tasks of saving Comino’s Tower and the Red Tower at Mellieha, and now the almost impossible challenge of rebuilding from scratch the St Anthony’s Battery at Qala Point in Gozo which is nearing completion. Din l-Art Helwa’s earlier involvement on the Church of Our Lady of Victory began with research and photogrammatery studies and between 2000 and 2004 restoration work on the external walls was carried out with important sponsorships from the private sector. These were essential to protect the precious vault paintings of Alessio Erardi.”

Din l-Art Helwa intended launching a nation wide appeal shortly and said it is heartened by the knowledge that there are many who wish to be involved in supporting this most prestigious and worthy project.

Victory Church represents the last space within this area of Valletta that is still needing restoration. Ms Mizzi said that if we looked round the church, all the way from the Stock Exchange, former Garrison Church, the Barakka Saluting Battery, the Auberges of Castille and Italy, the precious church of St Catherine of Italy, St James Cavalier, the Opera House ruins and Valletta’s entrance, all have been restored or are undergoing treatment and conservation. Din l-Art Helwa will endeavour to complete the work so that Our Lady of Victory church can be ready to participate in its full glory by 2018 when Valletta becomes European Capital of Culture. This Church, lying close to the place where Grand Master de Vallette and his knights laid the foundation stone of Valletta is particularly emblematic. History records that coins. specially struck by the Order with the words ‘Melita Rinascens’, were placed within the foundations, invoking the nation to rise again after long months of war. Today, Ms Mizzi concluded, “we must believe that yet again another victory for Malta is to be delivered.”

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