Parish Church of St Augustine
Encyclopedia
St Augustine Church is one of the churches built during the creation of the new city of Valletta
, Malta
. The foundation stone was laid in 1571 according to the plan and guidance of Geralomo Cassar, architect of the Knights of St John. The church was rebuilt in 1765 according to a plan of Giuseppe Bonnici. It was elevated to a parish church in 1968. St Augustine
Hall, adjacent to the church, is part of the original plan of Cassar.
A number of the artefacts found inside the church are originals from the first church. One of these is an important sixteenth century painting of the Augustinian Nicholas of Tolentino
depicted by the famous artist Mattia Preti
. This is found in the chapel of the same saint.
In the first chapel to the left, there is a painting of the Augustinian
John of Sahagun
who was born in Spain
in 1430. It is from the school of Preti and some of its figures can be found depicted on the ceiling of St John's Co-Cathedral
in Valletta. Beneath it there is a small painting of Our Lady of Grace
, undated and unsigned, also from the first church.
The church is renowned for the statue of St. Rita. Her feast is celebrated in May with a procession with her statue in the streets of Valletta
.
Valletta
Valletta is the capital of Malta, colloquially known as Il-Belt in Maltese. It is located in the central-eastern portion of the island of Malta, and the historical city has a population of 6,098. The name "Valletta" is traditionally reserved for the historic walled citadel that serves as Malta's...
, Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
. The foundation stone was laid in 1571 according to the plan and guidance of Geralomo Cassar, architect of the Knights of St John. The church was rebuilt in 1765 according to a plan of Giuseppe Bonnici. It was elevated to a parish church in 1968. St Augustine
Augustine of Hippo
Augustine of Hippo , also known as Augustine, St. Augustine, St. Austin, St. Augoustinos, Blessed Augustine, or St. Augustine the Blessed, was Bishop of Hippo Regius . He was a Latin-speaking philosopher and theologian who lived in the Roman Africa Province...
Hall, adjacent to the church, is part of the original plan of Cassar.
A number of the artefacts found inside the church are originals from the first church. One of these is an important sixteenth century painting of the Augustinian Nicholas of Tolentino
Nicholas of Tolentino
Saint Nicholas of Tolentino , known as the Patron of Holy Souls, was an Italian saint and mystic.-Biography:...
depicted by the famous artist Mattia Preti
Mattia Preti
Mattia Preti was an Italian Baroque artist who worked in Italy and Malta.- Biography :Born in the small town of Taverna in Calabria, Preti was sometimes called Il Cavalier Calabrese...
. This is found in the chapel of the same saint.
In the first chapel to the left, there is a painting of the Augustinian
Augustinians
The term Augustinians, named after Saint Augustine of Hippo , applies to two separate and unrelated types of Catholic religious orders:...
John of Sahagun
John of Sahagún
John of Sahagún , also known as Saint John of San Facondo, was a Spanish priest who belonged to the Order of Hermits of St. Augustine...
who was born in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
in 1430. It is from the school of Preti and some of its figures can be found depicted on the ceiling of St John's Co-Cathedral
St John's Co-Cathedral
St. Johns Co-Cathedral , located in Valletta, Malta, was built by the Knights of Malta between 1573 and 1578, having been commissioned in 1572 by Grand Master Jean de la Cassière as the conventual church of the Order of the Knights Hospitaller of St John, known as the Knights of Malta...
in Valletta. Beneath it there is a small painting of Our Lady of Grace
Our Lady of Grace
Our Lady of Grace is a title of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It may also refer to:England*A Roman Catholic church in Chiswick, London, England, in the Archdiocese of Westminster*Our Lady of Grace School , in Prestwich, Greater Manchester...
, undated and unsigned, also from the first church.
The church is renowned for the statue of St. Rita. Her feast is celebrated in May with a procession with her statue in the streets of Valletta
Valletta
Valletta is the capital of Malta, colloquially known as Il-Belt in Maltese. It is located in the central-eastern portion of the island of Malta, and the historical city has a population of 6,098. The name "Valletta" is traditionally reserved for the historic walled citadel that serves as Malta's...
.