Church of the Annunciation

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Location: Birgu

The first church of the Annunciation in Vittoriosa was built in 1450 and on 4th February 1528 the church was handed over to the Dominicans. During the Great Siege of 1565, the church of the Annunciation served as the parish church of Vittoriosa. Many people from the neighboring towns sought spiritual refuge in the church during the continuous attacks from the Ottoman Empire. It was from the Annunciation church that the priests administered the sacraments to the sick and wounded. In the beginning of the 17th century the church was demolished so that a new church could be rebuilt. On 23rd June 1638 the first stone of the new church was laid by Inquisitor Fabio Chigi. The new church was built in the Corinthian style and it was known for its architectural innovations. It contained various paintings by famous artists such as Giuseppe Cali and Lazzaro Pisani. Tragically, during the German blitz of the Second World War, the church and its contents were destroyed. Few objects were saved from under the debris including the statue of Our Lady of the Rosary and the silver pedestal of the statue of St Dominic. After the war a new church of the Annunciation was consecrated by Archbishop Michael Gonzi in 1960. In collaboration with Kottonera Foundation.

L-ewwel knisja tal-Lunzjata fil-Birgu nbniet fl-1450 imbagħad fl-4 ta' Frar 1528 ir-responsabilità tal-knisja waqgħet f’idejn id-Dumnikani. Matul l-Assedju l-Kbir tal-1565, il-knisja tal-Lunzjata serviet bħala l-knisja parrokkjali tal-Birgu. Waqt l-attakki kontinwi mill-Imperu Ottoman ħafna nies mill-bliet tal-viċinanza fittxew kenn spiritwali fil-knisja tal-Lunzjata. Kien mill-knisja tal-Lunzjata lis-saċerdoti amministraw is-sagramenti lill-morda u l-midruba. Fil-bidu tas-seklu 17 il-knisja twaqqgħet biex tkun tista' terġa tinbena knisja ġdida. Fit-23 ta' Ġunju 1638 l-ewwel ġebla tal-knisja l-ġdida tqiegħdet mill-Inkwiżitur Fabio Chigi. Il-knisja l-ġdida nbniet fuq l-istil Korintin u kienet magħrufa għall-innovazzjonijiet arkitettoniċi. Fiha kienu jinstabu diversi pitturi minn artisti famużi bħal Giuseppe Cali u Lazzaro Pisani. Traġikament, matul il-blitz Ġermaniż tat-Tieni Gwerra Dinjija l-knisja u l-kontenut tagħha ġew meqruda. Kienu ftit l-oġġetti li rnexxielhom jiġu salvati minn taħt it-tifrik fosthom l-istatwa tal-Madonna tar-Rużarju u l-pedestall tal-fidda tal-istatwa ta’ San Duminku. Wara l-gwerra l-knisja ġdida tal-Lunzjata ġiet ikkonsagrata mill-Arċisqof Michael Gonzi fl-1960. B’kollaborazzjoni mal-Fondazzjoni Kottonera.