Pilgrimage today to mark martyrdom of St Lawrence

As part of the celebrations in Vittoriosa marking the 1,750th anniversary of the martyrdom of St Lawrence, the patron of Vittoriosa, a pilgrimage will be held at this maritime town today at 6.30 p.m. led by the Missionary Society of St Paul and members of the Collegiate Chapter.

The pilgrimage with the statue of the patron saint will stop at the town's main square where Mass will be said followed by a procession to the church where the evening will be concluded with an antifone, a Eucharistic celebration and the hymn to St Lawrence, and outdoors by fireworks.

This fête follows a centuries-old tradition where for the 10 Wednesdays in the run-up to August 10, when the feast is celebrated, the people of Vittoriosa prepare themselves for the big day.

As part of the celebrations yesterday, part of Triq Desain was named 10 t'Awwissu 258, the date on which the saint was martyred.

Also yesterday a band march was held with a papier mâché 110-year-old statue called St Lawrence Bestowing Light To The Blind.

The statue showing the saint healing three men, one of whom is blind, the other deaf and the third has a club foot, was renovated by Andrew Bugeja and by gilder Roderick Busuttil.

According to a plaque discovered during the renovation, the statue was made by Vincenzo Maria Cremona on May 4, 1898.