Restored statue

After so many years in need of professional restoration, the wooden statue of the Risen Christ made by Salvu Psaila in 1833, which year after year is carried in Vittoriosa on Easter Sunday, has finally been carried out.

Last Sunday this statue was again carried shoulder-high after two Tarxien artists Renzo Gauci and John Orlando professionally restored it. Most of the structural restoration in the wood and painting of the figure of Christ was carried out by Mr Gauci while Mr Orlando was responsible for the gilding, cleaning and restoration. They did an excellent job.

Thanks must also go to Joseph Scicluna, who was the main financial support in this project, and to the Good Friday Commission who, together with the archpriest and the St Lawrence chapter, co-ordinated this job. One must keep in mind that most of the processional statues that one finds in the Vittoriosa parish church, like the Good Friday statues, and those of St Joseph and St Lawrence, are very old and of high artistic value.

For some good reason these statues were never professionally restored and most need intensive restoration. Let's hope that the people of Vittoriosa who are proud that they are Vittorjozani can financially help or even sponsor similar projects of restoration.

Incidentally, what happened with the restoration project of the stone monument of St Lawrence in Victory Square? Will it be ready in 2008?