Location Valletta Website Website of the Church Dedication Our Lady of Damascus Status Parish church | Country Malta Founded 1580 Architectural style Byzantine architecture | |
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Denomination Meklite Catholic Church Archdiocese Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Malta Similar Church of Our Lady of Liesse, Casa del Commun Tesoro, Nibbia Chapel, Banca Giuratale, Church of St Nicholas | ||
The Church of Our Lady of Damascus is a Melkite church in Valletta, Malta. It is the only Greek-Catholic church in the country. It is also called Id-Damaxxena.
Contents
Original Church
The original church was built upon the request of Giovanni Calamia to house the icon of Our Lady of Damascus brought over from Rhodes by the Knights of St John when they were expelled from the island by the Ottoman Empire. By 1580 the church was finished. In 1587 the Icon of Our Lady of Damascus was solemnly transferred from Vittoriosa to the new church.
Present Church
On March 24, 1942, during one of the bombings of Valletta, the Church of Our Lady of Damascus was hit and completely destroyed. Many icons were lost under the debris of the church. It was because of the initiative of Papas George Schiro‘ that the Church was rebuilt and reconsecrated on August 15, 1951 by Archbishop Georgios Halavazis.
Present use
The church is used by the Melkite community of Malta for Divine Liturgy. The church is also used by Armenian Orthodox Church, by Russian Orthodox, Ukrainian Orthodox and Belarusian Orthodox.