The Ciantar family and its ties with the Xewkija parish church

Abstract

The Parish of Xewkija, Gozo, dedicated to Saint John the Baptist, was the first parish to be erected outside the old town of Rabat, today known as Victoria. It was erected on the 27th of November 1678.It was, in fact, the first parish in Gozo to be dismembered from the Rabat parish, the only parish church existent in Gozo until then. Long before the actual establishment of the parish, the people of the village of Xewkija had been feeling the need for a parish church of their own. They had in fact sent a petition to the diocesan bishop Mons. Mikiel Glormu De Molina. De Molina, although not resident in Gozo, and perhaps not even in Malta, interested himself in the Gozitan cause. However, after receiving the petition, he wanted to see for himself the situation of the village. Those who had signed the petition were also asked to take an oath as to guarantee their genuine intention. [excerpt]