This is the dome of the Mosta Parish Church decorated for the feast of Santa Maria - as the Maltese fondly call this feast. It is the third biggest unsupported dome in the whole world.
The actual feast is The Assumption (to heaven) of Mary and is celebrated on 15th August. There are some 9 parishes dedicated to The Assumption of Mary around Malta and if you were to pass over Malta on a plane at night on the eve you would see fireworks exploding over all the Island.
Santa Maria is an important feast in Malta and is a public holiday (this time it fell on a Saturday). The Maltese believe in the many graces received from Mary in their time of needs. One particular occasion was during WWII when Malta was starving, without food, without ammunition for the guns to defend against enemy war planes and without fuel for the airplanes and the other military vehicles. On 15th August 1943 the first ships of a huge convoy – Operation Pedestal - sent to relieve Malta, arrived to save the Island from surrendering to the enemy.
I went purposely to take some shots on the Thursday prior to the feast – the first time in my life – and was astonished at what I saw. Unfortunately the church was closed, though.
Joke: A man comes into Mosta church and says that he wants to be a bell ringer.
Joey, the current bell ringer takes one look at him and says “But you’ve got no arms”
The man says that he has worked out a technique, so Joey tells him that they should climb up to the belfry and see what he can do.
When they get up there, the man jumps up and head butts the bell. BOING the bell swings then swings back and knocks the man down. He falls all the way down to the church floor.
Joey races down, down and the archpriest is standing over the man’s body and asks “Joey, do you know this man?”
Joey replies “No, but his face rings a bell”
Thank you so much for looking and for the lovely comments and the fav's on yesterday's picture.
Great shot