Next Sunday, the 28th of September, Gharb celebrates the traditional and popular feast of Saint Demetrius. The chapel (dedicated to this saint) is built on the edge of a promontory in Gharb, close to a cliff called Ras San Mitri (St. Demetrius’ Cape) not far from Ta’ Gordan Lighthouse. It can be approached by a country road from Gharb.

An older chapel was built by Dun Frangisk Depena early in the fifteenth century. However, Bishop Miguel Balaguer Camarasa deconsecrated it on 24th May, 1657 and fell into disrepair. In 1736, Dun Mario Vella caused it to be rebuilt, leaving an annual legacy of five scudi for its maintenance. On 11th April, 1809 the archpriest of Gharb, Dun Publius Refalo, blessed the chapel on behalf of Bishop Ferdinando Mattei. At the start of the second world war, at the request of the procurator Dun Paul Formosa, Papas Schiro` parish priest of the Greek Catholic community, celebrated Mass at this chapel that bears the name of a Greek saint.

There are several legends related to the chapel. The most popular legend says that the pirates stole Zgugina’s son. Zgugina went to the chapel and prayed San Dimitri to get her son back. San Dimitri leaped from the portrait with his white horse and rode to the pirate ship over water. He fought the pirates and returned her son safely. Another related legend says that the original San Dimitri chapel was close to the cliffs. One day in a big earthquake the chapel fell in one piece to the sea. The legend specifies that a candle is alight day and night in this underwater chapel. Also the legend mentions that the chapel bell still chimes on special religious days.

At 5pm on Sunday, a solemn concelebrated mass will be celebrated in the chapel. This will be with the participation of a small orchestra. The feast ends with the main celebrant blessing the congregation with the Holy Eucharist. The band “Vizitazzjoni” of Gharb will animate the gathered people with festive band marches. All Gozitans are invited to attend to celebrate the feast of this Greek-‘Gozitan’ saint.

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