Pilgrimage tour in Malta – “In the footsteps of the Apostle Paul”

The legendary island of Malta, with its many holy places, is very dear to all Orthodox Christians.
The most significant event, which is reflected in the Acts of the Apostles chapters 27 and 28, is the stay on the island of Melite (as Malta was formerly called) of the Holy Apostles Paul and Luke.
Christianity was brought to Malta by the Apostle Paul himself in 60 AD.
Paul was being taken to Rome to be tried there in front of Caesar but the ship on which he was sailing with 275 other passengers was caught in a terrible storm and was shipwrecked off the coast of Malta. All the people on board were able to swim to the shore safe and sound. The site of the shipwreck is traditionally called St. Paul’s Island, and it is marked with a statue that serves as a reminder of the event.

A small archipelago in the centre of the Mediterranean Sea, the Maltese Islands are literally the focus of many places that have been touched by the hands of many saints, as well as churches where the Lord and Queen of Heaven have performed miracles more than once.

Tour program:

Day 1 – Mellieha and St. Paul’s Island

Liturgy in the Church of the Most Holy Virgin Mary in Mellieha, where on the main altar the image of the Most Holy Virgin Mary is traditionally said to have been painted on stone by St. Luke himself, who accompanied the Apostle Paul in 60 AD. After the liturgy, we will go down to a cave with healing powers to leave notes and requests to the Most Holy Virgin Mary. Lunch.

After lunch, we will go with the traditional Maltese boat Luzzu to the uninhabited St. Paul’s Island.
Return to the hotel. Free time. Dinner at the hotel.

Day 2 – Valletta, the capital city of Malta

Prayer service in the church of the Shipwreck of the Apostle Paul, where relics are kept of the right wrist bone of the Apostle Paul as well as a part of the marble block, on which it is said, he was beheaded by decision of the Roman court in around 67 AD.

Lunch.

After lunch we will visit the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, which was built in the 16th century by the Knights of Malta. It is very richly decorated inside with beautiful paintings, mosaic floor, gold carvings, icons, and many images of saints. The entire history of the Knights in Malta is associated with this Cathedral.

We will also visit the parish church of the Most Holy Virgin Mary of
Damascus, where two miraculous icons of the Tenderness of the Most Holy Virgin Mary dating back to the 12th and 13th centuries are kept.
Return to the hotel. Free time. Dinner at the hotel.

Day 3 – Mosta – Rabat – Mdina

We will visit the Rotunda of the Most Holy Virgin Mary in Mosta, the third largest in Europe and the fourth largest in the world, where during the Second World War the miracle of the salvation of believers took place during a service when a bomb fell into the church which was filled with 300 people and which did not explode!

The church and monastery of the Virgin “of the grotto” in Rabat is also a well known place of pilgrimage. Early one morning in May 1999, tears of blood flowed from the eyes of the marble icon of the Mother of God! It has been scientifically confirmed that the tears of the Virgin are identical to human blood. The icon was hidden for a long time, but today it is on display and you can
venerate it.

Memorial service for the dead in the grotto of the Apostle Paul, where he lived and read the Word of God for three months while in Malta in 60 AD; then we will head to the nearby catacombs – an underground cemetery complex of the 1st and 2nd centuries BC.

Following a brief walking tour of the narrow streets of Rabat, we will go to the ancient capital of Malta, Mdina, where we will visit the Cathedral of the Apostle Paul built in the late 17th century, the mother of all churches in Malta. We will stop at the chapel of St. Agatha, who was martyred through beheading, for some prayers to the saint.
Return to the hotel. Free time. Dinner at the hotel.

Day 4 – the island of Gozo

Following a ferry crossing, we will start with a prayer service in the Basilica of the Blessed Virgin Mary Ta’ Pinu – a place of pilgrimage for believers from all over the world. In the basilica there is an old chapel where the Mother of God spoke to two local residents. The painting in the chapel of the Blessed Virgin Mary is miraculous; evidence of this are the numerous offerings, letters and
photographs of healed people.
Afterwards we will visit Dwejra and Xlendi Bay, a paradise among rocks, mysterious caves and grottoes, where you will have the opportunity to take some very beautiful photographs.

We will continue our excursion with a walk in the capital city of Gozo, Victoria. It has quaint narrow streets and kind residents who do not seem to know what vanity is. The Maltese know how to rejoice, have fun, and relax. It’s contagious! A slow way of life and desire for pleasure are harmoniously combined here. On the way, we will visit the Basilica of St. George and head to the highest bastions of the Citadel fortress, another attraction of the island of Gozo! We will then go
back to Malta by ferry.
Return to the hotel. Free time. Dinner at the hotel.

Day 5 – Church of St. Nicholas in Siġġiewi + Blue Grotto + Three Cities + Marsaxlokk fishing village.

We will start with Liturgy in the late 17th century parish church of St. Nicholas in the village of Siġġiewi. Later we will walk the winding streets and visit the Chapel of the Beheading of St. John the Baptist built by the Knights of Malta.
Then we will proceed to the tiny hamlet of Wied iz-Zurrieq, where you will have the opportunity to take a sea trip on fishing boats and admire the Blue Grotto, depending on the weather.
We will then head to the Three Cities, where the history of the Knights in Malta began in 1530. We will see the first hospital and the palaces built by the knights, the parish church of St. Lawrence, the Palace of the Inquisitors and Fort Saint Angelo. We will enjoy the town’s tranquillity and local flavour.

Lunch will be at one of the local Maltese restaurants.
After lunch we will visit Marsaxlokk – a picturesque fishing village where the largest fish market in Malta is organized on Sundays. You can walk along it, discover traditional products and admire the many colourful fishing boats.

Return to the hotel. Free time. Dinner at the hotel.