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Church of Our Lady of Damascus, Valletta

Church of Our Lady of Damascus
Εκκλησία της Παναγίας της Δαμασκού
Il-Knisja tal-Madonna ta' Damasku
Church of Our Lady of Damascus, Valletta.jpeg
Church of Our Lady of Damascus is located in Malta
Church of Our Lady of Damascus
Church of Our Lady of Damascus
35°53′55.9″N 14°30′52.7″E / 35.898861°N 14.514639°E / 35.898861; 14.514639Coordinates: 35°53′55.9″N 14°30′52.7″E / 35.898861°N 14.514639°E / 35.898861; 14.514639
Location Valletta
Country Malta
Denomination Greek Byzantine Catholic Church
Website Website of the Church
History
Founded 1580
Dedication Our Lady of Damascus
Consecrated 15 August 1951
Architecture
Status Parish church
Functional status Active
Architectural type Church
Style Byzantine architecture
Specifications
Number of domes 1
Administration
Archdiocese Malta
Clergy
Rector George Mifsud Montanaro
Deacon(s) Dr. Martin Zammit

The Church of Our Lady of Damascus (Greek: Εκκλησία της Παναγίας της Δαμασκού) is a Greek Byzantine Catholic Church church in Valletta, Malta. It is also called Id-Damaxxena.

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.

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.

The church is mainly used by the Greek Catholic community of Malta for Divine Liturgy. The church is also used by the Melkite Greek Catholic Church, by Armenian Orthodox Church, by Russian Orthodox, Ukrainian Orthodox and Belarusian Orthodox.


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