The statue of Christ crucified, which was sculpted in wood in 1848 by Pietru Pawl Azzopardi, and is venerated at Saint George’s basilica in Victoria, Gozo, is undergoing restoration work by Italian experts.

This miraculous and devotional artistic masterpiece hails from the Maltese Renaissance and is the centre piece of the Good Friday procession, the first one held in Gozo, which proceeds annually from St George’s basilica.

This particular procession is unique in character since it is the only one which has maintained traditional aspects.

The Neapolitan expert restorers, Rev. Prof. Ugo Dovere and Aurelio Talpa, had already carried out monitoring on the Crucifix and other wooden statues in the basilica, which make up this extensive collection of Baroque sculptures.

In 1838, Pietru Pawl Azzopardi sculpted the wooden statue of Saint George which became the first titular statue in Gozo. This year’s Good Friday procession from St George’s basilica falls on Maundy Thursday and starts at 6.30pm.

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