Lascaris bell blessed

After two years of restoration, the Lascaris bell at St John's Co-Cathedral, in Valletta was blessed by Archbishop Emeritus Joseph Mercieca. The bell was re-hung in its original place in the northwest belfry of the co-cathedral.

The ambitious project cost €28,000 since it started in 2006 under Paul Attard, president of the St John's Co-Cathedral Foundation, and curator Cynthia de Giorgio.

The blessing was carried out from a balcony above the main door as the bell was too heavy to be carried into the church.

The bell was originally blessed on March 23, 1749 and was last rung on August 24, 1974 at the funeral of Bishop Emmanuel Galea.