Floriana is slowly dying and if the situation persists there would be on one left to attend church, writer and philosopher Oliver Friggieri has warned.

He was speaking at the launch of the book Il-Knisja ta’ San Publju fil-Furjana – Storja u Arti’, which took place at Floriana’s parish church under the patronage of Apostolic Nuncio Aldo Cavalli.

The book talks about the treasures found in this church, with contributions by experts and spectacular photography. Judge Giovanni Bonello spoke about newly-found plans and documents of 1856 regarding the architecture of the church, while Henry Frendo recounted personal experiences related to that church and spoke at length about what he termed as the “temple of the Florianites’’.

The launch, presented by journalist Mario Xuereb, was concluded by Floriana archpriest Richard Borg who presented a copy of the book to Mgr Cavalli, who announced the termination of his appointment in Malta and praised the book’s editors and the “marvellous’’ St Publius church.

The book can be obtained from Floriana parish church, which today celebrates the feast of St Publius, Malta’s first bishop.