Feast of St. Paul’s Shipwreck in Malta: Feb 10
The Feast of St. Paul’s Shipwreck is a public holiday in Malta.
Every year on February 10, Malta celebrates the Feast of St. Paul’s Shipwreck. Many believed that during St. Paul’s return to Jerusalem (around AD60), his ship wrecked on the island. This has no scientific accounts but the Acts of the Apostles of the New Testament details the evidence of the shipwreck there. Stuck in the Island, St. Paul began preaching the Good News.
St. Paul is Malta’s Patron Saint.
History of Malta’s Feast of St. Paul’s Shipwreck
In some accounts, it was written that when St. Paul’s shipwrecked on the island, he began preaching the teachings of Christianity.
St. Paul was headed to Rome to face his sentence for practicing Catholicism as his religion. However, due to a bad weather, the ship carrying the famous saint landed on Malta. During his stay He performed a number of miracles including and not limited to healing to a sick Roman governor living during that time. The son of the then known Roman governor was converted to Christian and this marked the event of Christianization of Malta. Catholicism is still Malta’s official religion and the most dominant in terms of number of affiliated members in the country.
Malta’s Feast of St. Paul’s Shipwreck: Traditions, Customs and Activities
Malta celebrates the Feast of St. Paul’s Shipwreck with public entertainment and church services. A yearly procession is held where people take part in a parade holding St. Paul’s statue with accompanying fireworks and bands. The faithful chant and shout in honor of the saint while the faithful does the traditional promenade for the statue of St. Paul in public (especially in the streets of Valleta) with the La Valette Band.
Since this is a national holiday government establishments and major private companies. Catholic and non-Catholic tourists will surely enjoy the fun that this festivity brings. So if you’re headed to Malta, this is one public celebration in the country that you should experience.
