St Lawrence Collegiate Church

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Location: Triq San Lawrenz, Birgu

It is said that back in the 15th Century a church of San Lorenzo a Mare was located on the same site of the collegiate of Saint Lawrence. Since the Order of Saint John first settled in Birgu when they arrived in Malta, the church of Saint Lawrence was used as the Order’s first conventual church in Malta. When the knights moved to Valletta the church was passed on to the Inquisition. In May 1681, the first stone of the new church was laid by Bishop Molina. The designs of the church were made by the famous architect Lorenzo Gafà and its construction was completed in 1696. The church was inaugurated by Bishop Davide Cocco Palmieri on the feast of Saint Lawrence on 10th August 1697 and was consecrated in 1723. The church was given the collegiate status in 1820. On 16th January 1941 during a German aerial attack the church was bombed and the sacristy and the chapter hall were destroyed. On 22 March 1941 during another aerial attack the chapel of the blessed Sacrament was destroyed whilst on 4th April 1942 the dome of the church was crashed. These were later all rebuilt. The church is enriched with various works of arts such as the main altar that shows the martyrdom of Saint Lawrence and the painting of Christ the Saviour and The Dead Christ which were painted by Stefano Erardi. The collegiate of Saint Lawrence is listed on the National Inventory of the Cultural property of the Maltese islands. On 10th August, the feast of Saint Lawrence is celebrated in the church and a solemn procession is held.In collaboration with Kottonera Foundation.

Jingħad li lura fis-Seklu 15 fl-istess sit tal-kolleġġjata ta’ San Lawrenz kien hemm knisja ta’ San Lorenzo a Mare. Peress li meta l-Ordni ta’ San Ġwann waslu Malta marru joqgħodu l-Birgu, il-knisja ta’ San Lawrenz intużat bħala l-ewwel knisja konvenzjonali tal-Ordni f’Malta. Wara li l-kavallieri marru joqgħodu l-Belt Valletta, l-knisja għaddiet f’idejn l-Inkwiżizzjoni. F'Mejju tal-1681, l-Isqof Molina qiegħed l-ewwel ġebla tal-knisja l-ġdida. Id-disinji tal-knisja saru mill-perit Lorenzo Gafà u l-kostruzzjoni tal-knisja tlestiet fl-1696. Il-knisja ġiet inawgurata mill-Isqof Davide Cocco Palmieri fil-festa ta’ San Lawrenz fl-10 t’Awwissu tal-1697 u ġiet ikkonsagrata fl-1723. Il-knisja ingħatat it-titlu ta’ kolleġġjata fl-1820. Fis-16 ta' Jannar 1941 waqt attakk mill-ajru Ġermaniż, il-knisja ġiet ibbumbardjata u s-sagristija u s-sala kapitolari ġew imġarfa. Fit-22 ta' Marzu 1941 waqt attakk mill-ajru ieħor il-kappella tas-Santissimu Sagrament ġiet meqruda waqt li fl-4 ta' April 1942 twaqqet il-koppla tal-knisja. Aktar tard reġgħu nbnew kollha mill-ġdid. Il-knisja hija arrikkita b’diversi opri tal-arti bħall-artal maġġuri li juri l-martirju ta’ San Lawrenz u l-pittura ta’ Kristu Salvatur u Kristu Mejjet li ġew impittra minn Stefano Erardi. Il-kolleġġjata ta’ San Lawrenz hija mniżżla fl-Inventarju Nazzjonali tal-Propjetà Kulturali tal-Gżejjer Maltin. Fl-10 ta’ Awwissu, fil-knisja tiġi ċċelebrata l-festa ta’ San Lawrenz u ssir purċissjoni solenni.B’kollaborazzjoni mal-Fondazzjoni Kottonera.