A Marian Symposium is to be held in Gozo between Friday, the 3rd and Saturday, the 4th of May 2013.

Details of the Symposium, entitled La Fede Professata dalla Pietra (Faith Professed in Stone), have been announced by the Ta’ Pinu National Sanctuary.

Talks will be given by Jesuit Fr Marko Ivan Rupnik, a theologian from Slovenia who is renowned internationally in the field of sacred art especially in the section of mosaic.

Some of his famous mosaics: Redemptoris Mater Chapel at the Vatican, The Basilica of the Rosary at Lourdes, the new church of P. Pio at San Giovanni Rotondo, the new church of Faritma, sagristy of Madrid’s Cathedral and other works in USA, Cek Republic, Italy, Slovenia, Serbia, Syria, Rumania, Damaskus u l-Libano. Rupnik, who is also author of various spiritual books, is very often asked to lead retreats in different countries and is known for his unique style of art through which he brings forth the message of faith based on Sacred Scripture and holy Tradition with a special emphasis on the beginning of iconography with its roots in Eastern Europe.

With a doctorate from the Faculty of Missiology within the Gregorian Pontifical University of Rome, since September 1991 he is working in the Centro Aletti of Rome of which he is the director. He is also professor at the Oriental Pontifical Institute, in the Gregorian University and in the Pontifical Liturgical Institute of Saint Anselm. He gives seminars and talks at various academic institutions around Europe. Since 1999 he is a member of the Pontifical Council for Culture.

Among his famous works one has to mention his work within the Redemptoris Mater Chapel in the Vatican, the façade of the Basilica of the Holy Rosary in Lourdes, the crypt of St Pius in San Giovanni Rotondo, the new church of Fatima, the sacristy together with the chapter hall of the Cathedral of Madrid and various churches in the United States, Italy, the Czech Republic, Slovenia, Serbia, Syria, Romania, Damascus and Lebanon.

Rupnik is also working on the project of the Mysteries of the Rosary for the precincts of the Ta’ Pinu Sanctuary in Gozo.

Fr Rupnik will be contributing three interventions in the Symposium which will be held at the Hall of the Ta’ Pinu Sanctuary in Gozo. He will speak about the Mystery of Incarnation as the beginning of Christian art. Though speaking in Italian, his talks will be translated simultaneously in Maltese.

This initiative is taking place as part of the celebrations for the Year of Faith.

This symposium is being is being sponsored by HSBC Bank, JBD Digital Printing, Exalta, Gozo Express Services and the Council for Culture and Information within the Ministry for Gozo.

Those who wish to attend are kindly asked to fill in the application before the end of April, these can also be obtained from the Sanctuary.

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