The Hospitaller cult of St John Baptist in Malta : its history, patronage and politics

Abstract

This dissertation examines those elements of the cult of St John the Baptist introduced by the Order of St John in the Maltese Islands where the Saint was already known and venerated. Within a few weeks of research it became painfully and surprisingly clear, that, in spite of the saint's importance, there were remarkably few published works to consult on the saint's cult and even less so on the cult within the Order of St John. Small scattered pockets of information not published with this cult in mind, required re-evaluation and re- interpretation using Baptist-oriented eyes. Examples include the saint's representation and syrnbology in Maltese hospitaller art and coinage and looking at St John's Co-Cathedral in search of Baptist representation. Regarding the aspect of the dissertation evaluating the political use of the Baptist cult, material proved even harder to find and collate, but eventually all fell into place in the final chapter. Chapter I deals with background information on the saint and the evolution and ascendancy of his cult within the Catholic church, General features of the cult of saints of the Church and their application to the Baptist cult are examined, and the unique importance of the saint discussed. Special attention is given to the cult of Relics, which is of crucial importance and is recurrently referred to a number of times in the dissertation. The adoption of the Saint's patronage by the Order of St John and the specific form of veneration of the Saint by the Order in Jerusalem, Rhodes and in Malta are discussed . Celebration of the saint's nativity in Malta. including St John's Eve Fire are also examined. The possible pagan origin of the fire along with Maltese traditions, folklore and superstitions are gone into, also lightly drawing in relevant comparative folklore anthropology.