Maltese Church in Vienna – didn’t know this existed before I actually saw it. This was built in the 15th century by the Order of the Knights of St John, (later) also known as Knights of Malta, as a small church with a single, Gothic nave. No dramatic changes where made until the19th century, when in 1806 some sad changes were made mostly on a new façade. After WWI, the Order - now fully dedicated to health care and mission - sold the church . The church survived WWII and in 1960, the order bought it back with the financial aid of a benefactor.
Today, the church is situated at the centre of one of Austria′s busiest shopping lanes. The church façade is plain and inconspicuous. This altar painting – the Baptism of of Christ ( by the Order’s patron saint, St John Baptist) – is from 1730. Beneath the altar top is the eight-pointed cross of the Order which is now synonymous with Malta.
I was just there a couple of weeks ago. I had been told about the church, so I visited it. It's absolutely beautiful, made me nostalgic for Malta when I saw the Maltese cross (I have lived in Canada for 42 years!) On the left wall as you enter the church, there is a marble commemoration plaque with a Latin inscription. Does anyone know who it's dedicated to? (I thought it might be La Valette's tomb, but he is buried in St John's Co-cathedral in Valletta).
@annag1 I am not sure, but the plaque commemorates La Valette because according to Wikimedia - which is incorrect - La Valette is buried there, so my impression that the wrong information was obtained from that plaque. The church is dedicated to St John the Baptist. Do you happen to be a Maltese migrant living in Canada, if I may ask?
October 24th, 2011
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