Chapel of St Paul the Hermit, Wied il-Għasel

There are legends surrounding the early beginnings of this chapel however facts show that inquisitor Pietro Dusina visited the chapel in 1575 during his apostolic visit to Malta. He mentions that the chapel has a wooden door, something not very common those days, and an altar. However, there was no rector and no liturgical vestments and objects. The bishop also wrote that a certain Paolo Cumbo paid for the feast of the saint to be celebrated every year. This chapel is also mentioned in the first history book of Malta written by Giovanni Francesco Abela in 1647 describing some paintings that were in the chapel. In 1656 Ġan Pawl Mangion, a local from Mosta, brought a painting of the Virgin Mary and placed it in the cave. Bishop Balaguer of Malta gave permission for Mangion to rebuild the chapel and an altar around the painting in the cave. The chapel is also mentioned i 1676 were a certain Don Ortensio Bennini celebrated mass and preached at the chapel on its feast day.[1]

By time the chapel was abandoned. It was only in 1920 that Archbishop Mauro Caruana appointed Reverend Karm Gauci to care for the chapel. Consequently, the chapel was restored and a belfry was built. However, due to a blockage to the road which led to the chapel, people no longer went into the valley and the chapel was once again abandoned. Consequently, the chapel was also vandalised numerous times. As a result, Archbishop Gonzi deconsecrated the chapel. However recently the chapel was restored back to its original state.[2]

The chapel has one altar and a painting depicting St Paul the Hermit and St Anthony of Egypt. This painting is only a copy of the original was stolen in 1988 but was found some time later. Today it can be found in the Parish church of Mosta. In a small cave accessible from the chapel there is an altar with a painting depicting the Virgin Mary.