Annunciation Church, Mdina

The Church of the Annunciation also known as The Carmelite Church is a rich Baroque priory church of the Priory of Our Lady of Mount Carmel located in Mdina, Malta.

Interior of the church
Annunciation Church
The Church of the Annunciation of Our Lord
Carmelite Church
Knisja tal-Lunzjata
Annunciation Church
35°53′12.2″N 14°24′10.8″E
LocationMdina
CountryMalta
DenominationRoman Catholic
History
StatusActive
DedicationAnnunciation
Architecture
Functional statusPriory Church
Architect(s)Mederico Blondel des Croisettes
StyleBaroque
Completed1675
Administration
ArchdioceseMalta
Clergy
ArchbishopCharles Scicluna
AbbotCharlo Camilleri

History

Records mention that on the site of the present church, stood another church dedicated to the Nativity of Mary. Other sources mention that the chapel was dedicated to the Virgin of the Fortress (della Rocca).[1] The chapel and the surrounding area was given to the Carmelites in the 1650s. The church was built between 1660 and 1675 on the designs of Mederico Blondel des Croisettes.

After the earthquake of 1693 which destroyed many important buildings, notably the medieval cathedral of St Paul, the cathedral chapter moved to the Carmelite church until 1702 when the new cathedral was rebuilt. Moreover, the church also served as the parish church during this time.[2]

The dome

During the French occupation the church was ransacked by the French where valuables were stolen to fund Napoleon's wars. However, it is said that on one particular occasion, as the French were on their way to steal the church's damask, some rebels locked the church doors and a boy went up to the spire to sound the alarm. Consequently, this event gave birth to the resistance against the French.[3]

Works of art

The interior is enriched with baroque sculpture and paintings by notable artists such as Mattia Preti, Stefano Erardi, Michele Bellanti and Giuseppe Calì. The ornately carved and gilded wooden frame around the titular painting is the work of Pietro Paolo Troisi, and the processional statue of Our Lady of Mount Carmel the work of Maltese sculptor Andrea Imbroll.

See also
  • Catholic Church in Malta

References
  1. "Mdina", Archdiocese of Malta. Retrieved on 25 March 2017.
  2. "Mdina", Malta-Canada. Retrieved on 25 March 2017.
  3. "The Church", Carmelite Priory, Malta. Retrieved on 25 March 2017.
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