The Chapel of Our Lady of Philermos.
When browsing for some interesting information to share on this chapel I found that this was the first chapel in the Co-Cathedral. It was dedicated to the Virgin Mary. It housed one of the icons of the Virgin of Philermos that the knights had brought with them from Rhodes ( the Order had lost Rhodes to the Turks and had been for some years roaming around Europe until Charles V sovereign over Malta gave them the Island for their base) . This icon drew great devotion especially before battle when the knights would congregate and ask for the intercession of the Virgin Mary. When they returned victorious they would again congregate in the chapel in order to give thanks and present the keys of the conquered fortresses to the Virgin. The keys to the fortresses of Lepanto, Passava, Hammet and Patras are still present within the chapel. I missed these when I went there.
When the Order was expelled from Malta by the French under Napoleon Bonaparte in 1978 the icon was taken to St Petersburg but was lost for several decades only to be rediscovered in Montenegro and is now in the Museum of Fine Arts. The icon currently in the chapel depicts the Virgin of Lanciano known as the Virgin of Carafa.
As you can see, the sanctuary is enclosed by a gate. This is made of silver and was installed in 1752. It is said that when Napoleon and his French soldiers took Malta they carried away many precious items as spoils of war. The Maltese cunningly painted this silver gate to appear as a simple wooden gate so it would escape pillage which it eventually did.
Thank you very much for looking and for your lovely comments on yesterday’s picture.
Such an interesting story. I have been to Rhodes and was fascinated with the ruins that were left from the days the Knights were there. One chapel was particularly beautiful even though only the ribbing was left. This one is quite ornate. And that was very clever of the Maltese to disguise the gate!
