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| Isla | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nativity of Our Lady Parish Church The parish church of Isla, dedicated to the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, was most probably built by architect Vittorio Cassar in 1580 as a monument to the Christian Victory after the Great Siege of 1565 and called Our Lady of Victories. Isla became a parish in 1581 and towards the middle of the 17th century a new parish church on a Latin cross plan was built. It was consecrated by Bishop Alpheran de Bussan on the 29th November 1743. On the 21st May 1786 Pope Pius VI declared the church to be a Collegiate, while Pope Benedict XV in 1921 honoured the church with the title of Basilica. After the crowning of the statue of the Virgin Mary on the 4th September of the same year, the church became a Sanctuary of the Virgin Mary. The church was destroyed by enemy action in 1941, but was rebuilt and consecrated by Bishop Michael Gonzi on the 24th August 1956. Dedication date: 20th Oct. 1973. |
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| Left & Bottom Left: Pre WWII parish church of the Nativity of Our Lady | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Right & Top Right: The parish church of Isla nowadays | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Immaculate Conception A chapel of this dedication existed in a conservatory which was suppressed in 1866 according to A Ferres. |
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| Our Lady of Porto Salvo The church, dedicated to Our Lady of Safe Haven (the Visitation), was built in 1640. It is commonly known as the church of St.Philip Neri as it was given to the Oratorians of St.Philip who rebuilt it in 1741. When they left Malta, the archpriest of Isla became responsible for the church. During a cholera epidemic the friary adjacent to the church served as a hospital, and when Isla parish church was destroyed by bombs during WWII, this church served as the parish church. Today the Jesuits are reponsible for it and the friary. Marriages may be celebrtated in the church. |
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| Two sides of Our Lady of Porto Salvo (St.Philip) church | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Purification of Our Lady This oratory on the left hand side of the parish church was built before 1653 by the Marian congregation of Isla, which was founded before 1622. Here they used to celebrate both the seven Marian feasts as well as the Forty Hours Adoration apart from their weekly meetings. This oratory was rebuilt around 1758. Four pictures representing the Conception, Presentation, Annunciation and Assumption of the Blessed Virgin were placed on its side walls. According to A Ferres, in 1866 there were two other oratories adjacent to the parish church, one dedicated to the Holy Cross and another to the Holy Sacrament. |
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| Presentation of Christ Kandlora Adjacent to the Parish church built in 1750 in place of a St.Roque church of 1675 and a cemetery for those who died of the plague. Demolished by enemy action in WWII the church was rebuilt in the 1950's. |
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| Presentation of Christ (Kandlora) church | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| St.Anne Chapel Built in 1816 in a Hospital of the same name, it was demolished in the 1980's and replaced with a modern facility. It is managed by the Franciscan Sisters. |
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| St.Julian The first church in Isla. It was built in 1311 and altered in 1539 and 1712. The belfry built in 1729 was destroyed by enemy action during WWII but rebuilt to the original plans of Lorenzo Gafa' in 1998. Marriages may be celebrated in it. The Blessed Sacrament is exposed here for Perpetual Adoration at scheduled times. |
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| Church of St.Julian | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| St.John Baptist & St.Michael Archangel After WWII a new Chapel for the British forces was opened at St.Michael's Bastion abreast of No.3 Dock at Isla. On Thursday 24th June 1948, the Nativity of St. John Baptist, a service of dedication of this new Chapel was held. This Chapel was closed down when the Royal Naval dockyard was terminated when the British forces were reducing their presence on Malta and vacating certain sites in order to occupy fewer bases. The facilities were handed over to a private company C.H. Bailey. |
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