The Order of Saint Augustine was founded in Italy in 1244. According to the aims posed by the Church, the first Augustinian settlement was near the old capital, Imdina. It is a known fact that the Augustinians lost their monastery along with all they possessed during the Turkish invasion in 1429. Another monastery was later built a stone’s throw from the bastions of Imdina. This monastery was demolished by the Maltese in July 1551 when the country was under the threat of another attack from the Turks. The Augustinians had to wait till the 28 August 1555 to acquire the small chapel dedicated to St Mark together with a few tumble-down houses in its area from the Cathedral Chapter. This was an important date in the history of the Augustinians in Malta as it marked the beginning of an interrupted period of solid historical presence in Malta and Gozo stretching to this very day.

St Mark’s church and the Augustinian monastery, located in Triq Santu Wistin (Rabat) just as one goes up from Saqqajja, are considered as architectonic and artistic jewels of priceless value. Both the church, planned by the architect Glormu Cassar as a prototype of St John’s co-cathedral, and the monastery, a work of the architect Andrea Belli (of the XVIII century), have a lot of artistic and cultural heritage to offer. During their time in the monastery, the Augustinian community there passed through various difficult times, like the suppression brought on by the French occupation, but they also went through times of solidarity with the Maltese people, such as the episode when the monastery gave refuge to some 300 war refugees during the second world war, at which time the monastery was also being used as a school.

Today the monastery hosts a community of eight religious brothers. Apart from the apostolate associated with the running of the church, the main purpose of the community is the formation of new candidates that join the Augustinian Order. This is associated with the assistance given to youths who are undergoing a process of religious discernment to discover and recognise their vocational call.

‘Vetustior Glorior’ – the aim

The aim for the open weekend is twofold:

1) This will be a singular opportunity for the Maltese and foreign public to visit the monastery, which is normally closed as it is a religious house and private residence. It will be a cultural experience not only in that the visitors will be able to appreciate only the architecture and art on display in the monastery but also one will be able to appreciate the community life of the religious community based on faith and Augustinian principles, which have given a great social and religious contribution to Malta for more than 600 years. We firmly believe in the strong cultural message this event has for our times.

2) Recently the Augustinian community has started a process of restoration and conservation of the façade of the monastery and the church. A small part has already been completed and we wish to proceed with this work as we believe in the strong artistic and cultural message the project is trying to convey. The cost for the restoration is being estimated to cost e50,000-e60,000.

The activity

The activity will be called Vetustior Glorior as it is the motto which was given for a long time to this monastery: Older and more glorious. Through this activity we wish to make the Augustinian complex more appreciated and thanks to the restoration it can indeed regain its glory

The activity will therefore be centered on the values of faith, art, culture and the history of everything in the complex. To achieve this aim, a number of guided tours will be held every half hour (between 12.00 and 4pm). The visit will follow a path which goes round the two stories of the monastery with particular focus on the places of historical interest, such as the cloister, the scala regia, the library, the chapter hall, the refectory, the sacristy and the church but also the areas used by the community in the everyday life of the friars, such as the computer room, the recreation room and the private chapel. For the lovers of artistic works a special attraction will be one of the panels of the 15th century triptych which is being put into exhibition for this particular event.

As for the cultural aspect of the event, there will a photographic exhibition by Christopher Azzopardi along various art exhibitions of recent works featuring the monastery by different well established artists. The sale of these art works will contribute to the fundraising. There will also be a number of artists drawing onsite.

There will also be the participation of three choirs: St. Paul’s Choral Society under the direction of Dr Hugo Agius Muscat (during the Saturday mass at 6pm), Kor Sine Macula under the direction of Mro Tony Pace (during the Sunday mass at 10am) and New Choral Singers, under the direction of Mro Robert Calleja which will be holding a concert in the church on Saturday at 8pm.

There will be a cafeteria and various stalls contributing to the fundraising for the restoration.

Dates and times

Saturday 14 November: from 10am to 7.30pm. Choral concert in the church at 8pm

Sunday 15 November: from 10am to 5.30pm

Donations will be accepted at the door.