As the Catholic Church commemorates Our Lady of Sorrows Day, learn more about the interesting story behind the Holy Crucifix found in this little chapel in Valletta.

Found in Valletta’s St. Dominic Parish church, the chapel is home to what many Catholics believe to be a miraculous cross.

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The cross was sculpted in wood by Giuseppe Mazzeo da Vizzini in 1615 and was put up on the altar of the old St. Dominic Parish church before the church was taken down.

When the new church was built, the cross was taken to the convent dormitory instead. During its time in the convent, the crucifix was lit all year round.

However, during World War II, the Dominican friars feared that the church would be destroyed and therefore made a vow to the cross that if the church survived they would transfer the cross to the side chapel of Our Lady of Sorrows to replace another one made of papier-mache.

This would replace the papier-mache cross that is now found hanging in the sacristy.

The church was not hit and in great celebration, the crucifix was carried from the convent to the church, specifically within the chapel dedicated to Our Lady of Sorrows.

The small chapel within the Domincan church was fully restored recently and was inaugurated during the Easter of 2022. The effigy of the Holy Crucifix was restored by Manwel Zammit from Marsaxlokk, while the wooden cross was renovated by Frankie Micallef from Valletta.