28/07/2026
The Turkish naval forces of the Ottoman Empire were a dominant force in the Mediterranean Sea, and their supremacy peaked in mid 16th century. So one can imagine their dismay, when they failed to take over Malta on two occasions, in 1551 and 1565. And only 6 years later in 1571 they got a good drubbing by the Holy League during the Battle of Lepanto, when they lost 200 galleys to the Holy League’s 13. The Holy League were the Christian forces, and the Knights Hospitaller were part of this armada.
Pope Pius V, dedicated this victory to Our Lady of the Rosary, and the devotion towards Our Lady of the Rosary increased in Spain, Italy as well as in our islands. The Knights of St. John, being a religious order and Catholic, wanted to celebrate and commemorate this victory. And they did it in the church of Birmiftuh.
On the right transept to the main altar, where a chapel dedicated to St. George used to be, was now dedicated to Our Lady of the Rosary, as Bishop Gargallo wrote during one of his pastoral visits. He also noted a painting, depicting Our Lady, holding baby Jesus, and below her are 6 saints - and they are surrounded by the 15 rosary mysteries. Art historian Dominic Cutajar attributes this manneristic style painting to Sicilian artist Giuseppe Salerno.
A Confraternity of Our Lady of the Rosary was founded in 1588 in Birmiftuh.
This painting - which was originally on the altar of our Lady of the Rosary, is now in the Parish Church of Gudja, and it certainly deserves a visit.
