Kercem

Ta Kercem is a village on the island of Gozo, Malta, with a population of 1,921 people as of March 2013.

Map of Kercem

The village of Ta Kercem lies close by to the south-west of Victoria, spread between the picturesque Lunzjata Valley, the green hills of Tal-Mixta, Ghar Ilma and Ta Dbiegi, and stretching up to the Pond of Ghadira ta San Rafflu and Xlendi cliffs.

Archaeological discoveries show that the sizeable area of Ta Kercem was inhabited as early as the Ghar Dalam phase (5000-4500 BC). The Roman Baths and an early Christian cemetery at Ghar Gerduf, referred to by Gozitan historian De Soldanis as Roman Catacombs, are also significant discoveries. However to date, these historic sites are not accessible to the public.

Ta Kercem evolved into a village community in the late Middle Ages, around an ancient chapel dedicated to Pope Gregory the Great built around 1581. The site gained historical importance due to the annual traditional St. Gregory procession from the Matrix church in Rabat (Victoria) to this medieval chapel, upon the saints feast, namely on 12 March. The chapel was however replaced by the present parish church in 1851 which in turn was enlarged later on to its present state between 1906-1910. Ta Kercem became a distinct parish on 10 March 1885 by Bishop Pietru Pace. The Ta Kercem parish church is the only Gozitan church, which is jointly dedicated to two saints. As referred earlier, it was traditionally dedicated to Pope St. Gregory, but since 17 August 1885, the church was additionally co-dedicated to Our Lady of Perpetual Help.

The village of Ta Kercem has a population of around 1700 people. Cultural activities include the annual Ghadira Fair, which is a popular traditional family fair in the countryside area of San Rafflu.

The hamlet of Santa Lucija, Gozo, although in itself incorporated within Ta Kercem, is quite distinct with its rustic church square. Santa Lucija is inhabited by country folk with a few old houses built around an old chapel dedicated to St. Lucy.