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NAVIGATION
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Ir-Rotunda - The Rotunda.
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L-Iskultura u l-Induratura tal-koppla:
The Scupture and Gilding of the dome:
Dehra ta’ l-iscaffolding uzat biex tigi ndurata il-koppla, wiehed mill-ikbar li qatt raw dawn il-gzejjer.
A view of the scaffolding used, one of the largest ever set in Malta.
Meta fl-1919 tlestiet l-induratura u z-zebgha ta' bejn it-twieqi tat-tambur, kont tisma' hafna Mostin ighidu: "Issa l-koppla fadal!" Din il-koppla li kien ghadha lixxa kif halliha l-imghallem li bnieha bidet tinhass li ma ddoqx mal bqija tal-knisja fejn huwa kollu, zebgha, induratura, skultura u pittura, imma dak l-gholi u dak il-kobor kollu taghha donnu kien ibezza' lil kulhadd li jindahal ghall-bidu ta' xoghol li hadd ma kien jaf sewwa kemm iqum imhabba l-armar tieghu.
Inqala' ragel ghani mill-Mosta, is-sur Karm Dimech, li fil-ftit snin li kien ilu lli gie mill-Amerika kien ga hallas ghal zewg opri (il-"monument" famuz tal-Gimgha l-Kbira u ventartal tal-metall), u dan il-benefattur kbir bil-kuragg kollu ried issa jindahal biex jaghmel ix-xoghol tal-koppla minn butu.
Wara li saret ir-relazzjoni tal-periti u l-Isqof ta' d-degriet tieghu, f'Settembru 1928 inbeda i-xoghol ta' l-armar u baqa' sejjer ghal sena shiha. Il-Perit responsabbli kien s-sur Indri Micallef, u s-sur Tuse de Maria ndahal ghall-armar li, imhabba il-kobor, il-gholi u t-twerwir tieghu, huwa wiehed mill-ikbar bicciet armar li qatt rat Malta. Il-Mosti Mastru Salv Zahra hazz il-koppla fuq id-disinn tqil u sabih li halla Grongnet u ix-xoghol tat-taqtigh tal-kwadretti u l-iskoltura tar- ruzetti mbeda fil-15 ta' Marzu 1930. Meta l-koppla tlestiet mill-iskoltura, zebgha u nduratura, nistghu nghidu bla biza ta' xejn li hija wahda mill-isbah bicciet xoghol li ghandna fil-knejjes tal-Gzira.
After the interior of the drum was painted and gilded, the parishioners felt the need to decorate the inner part of the dome as it looked plain compared to the rest of the church, which was all decorated. However many were afraid to do such a delicate job up there: the thought of setting the necessary scaffolding alone made many people shudder! Luckily, a rich man from Mosta, Carmelo Dimech who had just returned from the USA and who had already paid for the Good Friday "Monument" and for a metal altar front expressed his wish to pay for the embellishment and decoration of the dome.
After architectural consultation and following the issue of a decree by the Bishop in 1928, the work on the scaffolding was begun and continued for a whole year. The responsible architect was Andrea Micallef assisted by Toussaint de Maria. This was a very difficult task as this scaffolding was rather large and high, one of the largest ever set in Malta. Although architect Grognet had left a design of the dome, Salvatore Zahra from Mosta who supervised the work redrew it. The work on the sculpture of the dome started on March 15. 1930. When the work on the dome was finished, the result was excellent; presenting one of the most beautiful; sculptured domes on the Island.
 Qoxra tar-Ram ghall-Koppla:
The Copper Sheeting:
It-toqba li ghamlet il-bomba Germaniza li nifdet il-koppla fl-1942 inghalqet ftit snin wara izda l-effetti ta' dik it-thezziza qawwija tal-balla bdew jinhassu kull meta kienet taghmel xi xita qawwija. Il-koppla kienet toqtor u f'xi partijiet kienet qed tixxarrab b'dannu kbir ghall-induratura u z-zebgha tal-koppla! Xi haga kien mehtieg li jsir mill-iktar fis biex din l-hsara ma tkomplix.
Wara hafna pjanijiet, fuq il-pariri li kien ta' l-espert J. Megilly, kien gie deciz li dik l-parti ta' fuq tal-koppla fejn hemm il-weraq kellha tinkesa b'qoxra tar-ram ahmar. Dan ix-xoghol kien gie afdat f'idejn Messrs. Fredk. Braby and Co tld ta' Londra. Ix-xoghol kien beda fis-19 ta' Frar, 1960 u ntemm f'Gunju ta’ l-istess sena. In-nefqa kollha kienet ta' Lm5,962.82c
Din l-opra kbira u ta' siwi saru fi zmien il-parrokat ta' Mons. Pawlinu Galea li bhala id leminijia tieghu kellu l-Prokuratur tal-knsija Dun Salv Magro, li hadem u rsista kemm felah ghaliha.
The opening caused by the German bomb that hit the dome in 1942 was sealed some years later but the bomb shook heavily the dome, and this was evident after periods of heavy rain. Rainwater was seeping through the dome causing damage to the paint and gilding of the interior. Something had to be done so that this would not continue.
After a lot of planning and consultation with the expert J. Megilly, it was decided that the upper part of the dome would be covered with a copper sheeting. This job was entrusted to Messrs. Frederick Braby and Co Ltd of London and work began on February 19, 1960 and was finished in June the same year. All this amounted to Lm5, 962.82c.
This massive project was enacted during the administration of Archpriest Don (later Mgr.) Paolino Galea, who was helped by the procurer Fr. Salvatore Magro, who made a lot of effort in order to see it completed.
Ir-ram kif jidher illum.
The copper sheeting as seen today.
Il-Haddiema jpoggu ir-ram fl-1960, in-naha ta’ fuq tal-koppla.
The workers in 1960 putting the copper sheeting on the upper part of the dome.
Il-Frontispizju tal-faccata ta' wara:
The Rear Frontspiece:
Fl-ewwel ritratt naraw il-frontispizju u fit-tieni ritratt naraw disinn tal-pjanta ta’ dan il-frontispizju.
The first photo shows the rear frontspiece and in the second photo one can see the design of the plan made.
L-Arcipriet Bezzina ha hsieb sabiex jinbena l-frontispizju ta' fuq il-faccata ta' wara tar-Rotunda kif kien ippjanata mill-arkitett Grognet. Din il-bicca xoghol kienet ilha tinhass nieqsa u kellha titkompla wara izjed minn mitt sena li kienet ilha lesta l-knisja! Ix-xoghol ghal dan il-frontispizju kien inbeda f'April ta' l-1968 u kien gie afdat f'idejn il-"Gatt Bros." tal-Mosta. Din il-bicca xoghol kienet tinkludi wkoll is-sala kbira li nbniet fuq is-sagristijiet. L-iskultura tal-frontispizju qattaghha s-Sur Karmnu Cini miz-Zebbug t'Ghawdex. Din l-opra swiet b'kollox qrib Lm7,000.
Archpriest Bezzina thought of finishing the rear facade with a frontispiece as planned by Grognet himself. This void was being felt for a long time and more than hundred years had to pass before this part of the church was completed. Works began in April 1968 and these works were entrusted to "Gatt Brothers" from Mosta. This project included also the large hall built over the sacristies. The sculpture of the frontspiece was made by Carmelo Cini from Zebbug,Gozo. The work on this project cost Lm 7,000.
L-Appostli tal-portiku:
The Apostles of the Colonnade:
L-Appostli fil-portiku.
The Apostles in the colonnade.
Kien l-Arcipriet Dun Bartilmew Bezzina li twebbel li jimla n-nicece vojta ta' that il-portiku. Ftit qabel il-festa ta' Santa Marija ta' l-1966 kienu tpoggew f'posthom l-istatwi ta' l-Appostli San Gwann, San Tumas, Sant' Andrija u San Gakbu l-kbir. Lejlet it-Tre Re ta' l-1968 kienu tqeghdu l-istatwi ta' San Filippu u San Bartilmew filwaqt li f'Lulju ta' l-istess sena hadu posthom l-istatwi ta' San Gakbu z-zghir u San Mattew. F'Lulju ta' l-1969 tpoggew l-istatwi ta' San Xmun u ta' San Guda Taddew. L-ahhar zewg statwi, dik ta' San Pietru u l-ohra ta' San Pawl, tqeghdu f'posthom fejn narawhom bil-pedestall b'kollox nhar it-30 ta' Marzu 1974.
It-tnax-il statwa msemmija huma xoghol mill-isbah fil-gebel ta' l-iskultur Qormi Marco Montebello u gew imhallsin minn diversi benefatturi Mostin li isimhom jidher minqux taht kull statwa.
Archpriest Bezzina had another project in mind; that of filling the empty niches of the colonnade. Some days before the feast of Santa Maria in 1966, four statues were placed; Saint John the evangelist, saint Thomas, Saint Andrew and saint James the Great. The statuets of Saint Philip and saint Bartholomew were palced in their niches on the eve of the feast of the Epiphany in January 1968 while the ststues of Saint James the Less and Saint Matthew the evangelist were palced in July of the same year. July 1969 saw the placing of the statues of Saint Simon and Saint Jude Thaddeus.
The two other statues, those of Saints Peter and Paul are placed on two pedestals under the bell towers. These were brought in Mosta and placed on their pedestals on March 30, 1974.
These statues are all work in Maltese stone of the Qormi Sculptor Marco Montebello and were paid by various parishioners whose names are carved at the base of each statue.
Fl-ewwel ritratt naraw l-abbozz ta’ l-Evangelista San Mattew u fit-tieni ritratt naraw l-istatwa ta’ San Mattew, xoghol l-iskultur Marco Montebello.
The first photo shows the model for the statue of Saint Matthew and the second photo shows the statue of Saint Matthew made by Marco Montebello. |
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Il-Paviment - The impressive Pavement.
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 Mill-gholi ta' l-anterna bit-tmien mensoli taghha maqlubin 'il gewwa, nitfghu harsitna fuq il-paviment ta' l-irham li jinfirex taht saqajna. Pavment kbir li jghaxxaq bi gmielu 'l kull min ihares lejh, l-aktar jekk titla' tarah mill-gallerija ta' fejn hemm it-twieqi tat-tambur! Ma nafx biex taqbad tistaghgeb l-aktar, jekk hux bis-sengha ta' l-imghallmin li poggewh jew inkella bil-genju ta' l-arkitett Grognet li ddisinjah. Wirja tassew ta' disinn, kuluri u movement li flimkien jaghmlu minn dan il-paviment opra verament artistika li zzejjen mhux ftit lil dan is-Santwarju ta' Marija Assunta.
Ix-xoghol biex sar dan il-paviment inbeda f'Gunju ta' 1909 u dam sejjer sentejn, jigifieri sa Awissu ta' l-1911. L-imghallmin, bhal fil-kaz tal-presbiterju, kien t-Taljan Mariano Spina meghjun minn Antonio Galea minn Birkirkara. Sar bit-thabrik tal-Prokuratur li kellha l-knisja dak iz-zmien, iz-Zabbari Dun Ang Camilleri, u sewa b' kollox Lm2,018-7xelini u 3 soldi, somma kbira ghal dak iz-zmien u kbira biex tigborha f'dawk iz-zminijiet ta' ghaks. Dan il-paviment grandjuz kien gie sahansitra inawgurat mill-Isqof Mons. Pietru Pace nhar l-1 ta' Awissu 1911, b'sodisfazzjon kbir tal-kleru u l-poplu Mosti kollu.
Kienet tassew hasra li dawn iz-zewg opri hekk kbar, tal-koppla u tal-paviment, kellhom isofru tant hsarat matul l-ahhar gwerra dinjija meta bomba Germaniza nifdet il-koppla nhar 9 ta' April, 1942. Madankollu il-marmista Ruman Romeo Ceccotti sewwa l-hsara li garrab il-paviment. Ir-Ruzun tan-nofs li garrab l-iktar hasra rega tpogga fl-1960.
Looking down from the lantern, one remains amazed with the beautiful marble that covers the church flooring. Anyone who is lucky enough to see this masterpiece from the dome's gallery remains astonished, either with the craftsmanship of the men who laid it or with the skill of its designer - architect Grognet. It is a combination of colour, design and movement that decorates this Sanctuary of the Assumption.
Works on this flooring began in June 1909 and continued for two years until August 1911
The Italian Mariano Spina helped by Antonio Galea from Birkirkara laid the marble slabs on the initiative of the church procurer Don Angelo Camilleri from Zabbar. It cost Lm2,018, 7 shillings and 3 pence; a large sum at the time that was difficult to collect, as many of the villagers were in poverty. This grand marble flooring was inaugurated by Bishop, Mgr Pietro Pace on August 1, 1911, to the satisfaction of the people and clergy of Mosta.
Unfortunately, both the dome and floorig were badly damaged on April 9th, 1942 when stones that fell down with the bomb that hit the dome damaged it badly. In the following years, the Italian marble layer Romeo Ceccotti repaired this damage; the central rosette that suffered considerable damage was made new in 1960. |
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SPECIAL THANKS GOES TO KEVIN MUSCAT. |
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