How St Lawrence confirmed Malta's European identity

Abstract

The Saint Lawrence historic parish church was the first in the Maltese islands to adopt a patron saint from the Latin rite, namely St Lawrence, and its liturgical feast is worthy of the Citta Vittoriosa. Secure documents reveal that only the Castrum Maris (Fort St Angelo) was an enclave of European culture, customs, traditions and festivities. Most of the 'castellans', the keepers of the' castle, at the Castrum Maris came from Aragon, the birthplace of St Lawrence. Therefore, they initiated the cult in Vittoriosa and established the parish of St Lawrence in the 13th century. In the 16th century, the Knights of St John made 'San Lorenzo-a-Mare' their conventual church. As great patrons of the arts, the knights enriched the church with priceless treasures brought from Rhodes. The church's treasures put Malta firmly within Europe's artistic mainstream and, consequently, its European identity was confirmed.