It’s a full 25 years since the Kristu tal-Bahhara statue was deposited on the seabed to ward off any would-be perils to Maltese and Gozitan sailors.

The statue, which was fashioned out of concrete and fibreglass by Maltese sculptor Alfred Camilleri Cauchi in order to keep its form in cold, salty and deep water, was initially created to mark the occasion of Saint Pope John Paul II’s visit to Malta, who graced our shores on an official visit back in 1990.

The Kristu tal-Bahhara statue was the only statue of its kind to be blessed during his Papacy.

It currently lies some two kilometres off Qawra Point, but it wasn’t always located there. In fact, it was initially located off St. Paul’s Islands after a team of divers led by Raniero Borg put their scuba gear on and deposited it on the seabed.

However, during the 10 years that ensued, the underwater visibility in the area deteriorated markedly, as did the volume of divers visiting the site to view the statue. The decision to relocate it was taken and executed in 2000.

It now lies in 35 metres of water, just a short distance away from the MV Imperial Eagle, an old ferry which was used to transport passengers between Malta and Gozo from 1958 through to 1968. The scuttled ship, together with the statue, make the site very popular with divers in the present day.

Kristu tal-Bahhara was recently cleaned up by the team at Briiz, a professional boat cleaning company which caters to boat owners, both local and international who moor their boats in one of Malta’s many bays and marinas.

Archbishop of Malta, Mgr. Charles J. Scicluna, will be leading a ceremony at the site on Sunday, the 31st of May, to mark 25 years of the statue being at sea.

He will bless a plaque to mark the occasion. This plaque will then be fixed in place by a team of divers who have been hand-picked for the task.

Those who have their own boats are invited to join in the ceremony, which will also serve as an unofficial inauguration of the summer season.

Depending on the time Archbishop Scicluna might also bless private boats in attendance. It promises to be a wonderful occasion.

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