The Solemn Translation and Pontifical Celebration of the first vespers of the solemnity for the Feast of St George, took place this evening, Presided by H.L. Mgr Mario Grech, Bishop of Gozo and Dean of the Collegiate, at St George’s Basilica, in Victoria.
The Bishop was assisted by a delegation of the Cathedral Chapter and the Collegiate Chapter in urbe, and with the participation of the Sacred, Military and Constantinian Order of St George.
The congregation was led by H.E. President Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca.
The celebrations for St George’s Feast reach their climax tomorrow in Victoria, which this year also marks the 175th anniversary of the titular statue of St George, carved in wood by Pietro Paola Azzopardi in 1839.
To mark this special anniversary the Holy Relic of the arm of St George [1], venerated at the Basilica of San Giorgio Maggiore on the homonymous island in Venice since 1296, was brought to Gozo for the special festivities.
The celebrations in Victoria are organised by St George’s Basilica and the details for Sunday are shown below:
Sunday: SOLEMNITY OF ST GEORGE
8.00am: The Collegiate Chapter and clergy of the basilica accompany H.L. Mgr Mario Grech from the Bishop’s Palace at Republic Street to the basilica. Celebration of Terce at the major sacristy of the Basilica.
8.30am: PONTIFICAL CONCELEBRATION PRESIDED BY H.L. MGR MARIO GRECH, BISHOP OF GOZO AND DEAN OF THE COLLEGIATE, ASSISTED BY A DELEGATION OF THE CATHEDRAL CHAPTER, THE COLLEGIATE CHAPTER, THE CLERGY OF THE URBAN BASILICA, AND MEMBERS OF THE SECULAR AND RELIGIOUS CLERGY. THE BISHOP DELIVERS A HOMILY WITH WORDS OF PRAISE AND GLORY TO ST GEORGE, PATRON OF THE DIOCESE. MARIE-LOUISE COLEIRO PRECA, PRESIDENT OF MALTA, HEADS THE CONGREGATION.
The Mass in D in honour of St George “Princeps Martyrum” (Joseph Vella, 1976) for soloists, choir a 4 voci dispari and orchestra are executed. Soloists Miriam Cauchi (soprano), Antonino Interisano (tenor) and Dario Russo (bass), and the Laudate Pueri Choir of the basilica take part.
11.00am: The San Gorg (Hal Qormi) and Santa Margerita (Ta’ Sannat) Bands lead the popular band march at the heart of Victoria.
Evening
5.00pm: Last Mass for the day, celebrated by Mgr Guzeppi Attard, archpriest of the Cathedral parish.
6.00pm: Solemn celebration of the Second Vespers of the solemnity, presided by Mgr Salvatore Di Cristina, archbishop emeritus of Monreale, Sicily.
It-Tieni Vespri tas-Solennità ta’ San Gorg, composed by Prof. Joseph Vella, will be performed by the Laudate Pueri Choir.
6.15pm: The La Stella Band marches from Republic Street to St George’s Square.
7.00pm: The La Stella Band of Victoria hails the appearance of the statue of the diocese’s heavenly protector at the bronze portals of the parish of Gozo, with the religious hymn Georgius natus est (Can. Joe Mejlak – Prof. Joseph Vella).
7.15pm: The Gozitans present in the square join the La Stella Band in saluting their patron saint with the execution of the immortal hymn A San Giorgio Martire (Prof. Luigi Billion – Mro Giuseppe Giardini Vella), with the participation of tenor Antonino Interisano (Italy), bass Dario Russo (Italy) and the choir of the Philarmonic Society.
7.30pm: PONTIFICAL PROCESSION ALONG THE MAIN STREETS OF THE CITY, LED BY ARCHPRIEST MGR SALVATORE DI CRISTINA, WITH THE PARTICIPATION OF THE COLLEGIATE CHAPTER, THE CLERGY OF THE URBAN BASILICA, MEMBERS OF RELIGIOUS ORDERS OF VICTORIA, SEMINARIANS OF THE DIOCESE AND THE CONFRATERNITIES OF THE PARISH. THE LA STELLA BAND ACCOMPANIES THE PROCESSION WITH THE PERFORMANCE OF RELIGIOUS HYMNS.
8.15pm: Band march by the Mnarja (Nadur) Band, from St Francis’ Square to St George’s Square, followed by a musical programme at the square by the same band, under the direction of Mro Joseph Grech.
10.00pm: The Maltese and Gozitan crowds present in Victoria greet the statue of St George at the square as the procession arrives at the basilica, with the singing of the popular hymn Lill-Kbir Martri ta’ Kristu (Rev. Accursio Xerri ofm – Mro Vincenzo Ciappara).
10.30pm: Triumphal entrance of the statue of St George at the basilica, followed by the execution of the popular Antiphon Beatus Georgius and Eucharistic Benediction, celebrated by Archpriest Mgr Pawlu Cardona as a conclusion to Gozo’s feast in honour of its patron St George.
Photographs: Alain Salvary