Parish & the Church

 
 

Many has been written about Gozo's proudest parish. Detailed volumes have been published by numerous scholars and prolific writers. We will not be giving the due respect to Nadur's history by trying to give a detailed picture in a few paragraphs. However, let's go back to the year 1688 when it was decreed that the east of Gozo an area comprising Nadur, Qala, Ghajnsielem, Imgarr and Comino island would become a parish. 

All together they had a population of around 400. The Historic shrine of the Immaculate Conception at Qala was to serve as parish church temporarily while immediately work commenced to build a bigger church on Nadur Hill which was therefore to make Nadur one of Gozo’s first and proudest parishes. 

A legend says that the location of the new church was entrusted to a man named Girgor Buttigieg, who was believed to have saintly visions and prophetic powers.  So it was that the farmers blindfolded his donkey and loaded him with the foundation stone of the church.  Despite the fact that the stone was heavy the donkey walked and stopped on to the highest point of the village and there the church was built.  

The beloved titular statue, that of St. Peter and St. Paul, was made in Marseilles in 1882.  It is one of the many masterpieces that grace this grand church.  On good Friday a beautifully-made set of statues are taken out for the holy procession depicting the passion and crucifixion of Jesus.  On Easter morning a statue of The Risen Lord is also joyfully paraded. 

The Basilica is also endowed by wonderful ceiling paintings.  Some works of Lazzarus Pisani show details from the heroic lives of Nadur Patron Saints, St. Peter and St. Paul, while a beautiful painting near the main altar is attributed to the school of Mattia Preti.  This magnificent temple also boasts of 33 stained glass windows, an onyx presbyter and a fascinating pulpit with carved bronze images.   

Nadur also has  his second Patron. This is St. Coronatus and his feast is celebrated on the 2nd Sunday of November.

Qala and Ghajnsielem have both their own Parish now, however Nadur parish is still the biggest parish in the Gozitan Diocese. A  Parish, comprising of four thousand people, all united under their patrons… St Peter and St Paul.