Since the Mdina Cathedral Museum and Archives opened in 1969 in the splendid baroque palace that once housed the Archbishop’s Seminary, it has surpassed all aspirations and expectations, emerging as a living vibrant museum.

Ecce Homo by Mario Minniti (1557-1640), a poignant rendering with Caravaggesque inspiration. Photos: Courtesy Mdina Cathedral Museum

Every year it attracts more scholars, academics, researchers and students, both local and foreign, to its rich archives and exceptional objets d’art. It’s a veritable treasure house of Malta’s heritage that goes back to the Middle Ages.

With its close affinity with the ancient Cathedral dedicated to St Paul, the museum gives tangible proof of its raison d’etre, namely the fusion of faith and culture. With its stately galleries, spacious loggias and ancient vaults, the museum recently received the accolades and appreciation of the highest ecclesiastical authorities, the Vatican Pontifical Commission, and just a few months ago, sacred baroque music from its priceless musical archives was premiered at the museum for a Roman basilica.

St Paul’s Cathedral is intrinsically linked with the history of Christianity in Malta which traces its origins to the shipwreck of St Paul on the island in 60AD.

The first church that existed on the site of the present cathedral built in 1693 to the design of the father of Maltese baroque, Lorenzo Gafa, goes back to the 6th century AD, when textual evidence suggests that during this time, known as the Byzantine period, Lucillus, Bishop of Malta erected a “cathedral” on this site. Most probably, it was a “basilica” with an apse like the one excavated at Marsaxlokk by the Italian Archaeological Mission half a century ago.

A few surviving relics belonging to this period still survive

After the complete expulsion of the Arabs in the middle of the 13th century, securely documented evidence dated 1299 indicates that a new church dedicated to St Paul was erected on the existing basilica. It was subsequently enlarged and embellished particularly in the 15th and early 16th centuries. These activities testify to the refined tastes of the cathedral management and the Università which always demanded the best when it came to artistic, musical and educational projects from the most outstanding local or foreign masters. All these aspects are recorded in the Mandati Documents extant at the archives and recently analysed by Stanley Fiorini.

Frederick Sustris (c.1544-c.1599): A mythological scene showing Apollo flaying Marsyas after winning a musical contest.

A few surviving relics belonging to this period still survive and can be viewed either incorporated at the same cathedral or at the adjoining museum.

These include the ancient icon of Our Lady of St Luke, the Codex also known as Liber Sancti Pauli on which solemn oaths were taken, the baptismal font from the famous Domenico Cagini workshop in Sicily dated 1496; an ornate superbly panelled west door by local craftsmen presently serving as the sacristy door; a 15th century Gothic processional cross now displayed on special occasions on the high altar as well as two unique ancient antiphonaries dating back to 1273.

Pride of place in the Museum Gallery goes to the Polyptych of St Paul, the most outstanding work of art from the old Cathedral. It is attributed to the Circle of Luis Borassa (1360-1426), which was specifically commissioned for the Mdina Cathedral. It is a living testimony that, even in the pre-Knights period, Malta was not divorced from the mainstream of European art and culture.

This section of the museum displays a vast array of sacred and profane art like the Caravaggesque Ecce Homo by Mario Minniti (1557-1640) and Apollo Flaying Marsyas, a mythological painting by Fredrick Sustris (c1540-c1599). The gallery is replete with paintings from established masters of the highest order that include etchings by the great Albrecht Dürer and artistic drawings of the Nativity. The priceless archives shed new light on our medieval past as the records of the Mdina Università, the details of the Militia Lists (Dejma) as from 1419, the complete processes of the Inquistion and the detailed Mandati Documents.

Icon of Virgin and Child also known as the Madonna of St Luke. Sicolo-Byzantinesque School, early 14th century.

What is most stunning is the richness of the baroque music by local and foreign composers of the periods, a musical heritage that had languished in the vaults for centuries and now performed in many cathedrals in Europe and the US.

The revival concerts from this music, which were initiated in the mid-1970s, now reverberate in the spacious halls at the Cathedral Museum as well as on three CDs executed by the Cedime Firm of France and which are now distributed all over the world.

Last Christmas, the museum received the highest honours when the news was splashed with banner headlines ‘America finds Christmas Inspiration from Baroque Malta’ as the exquisite music of Giuseppe Balzano’s Dormi Dormi O Gtan Bambino was performed in many American cathedrals.

• The Mdina Cathedral Museum Management Committee has prepared a series of programmes for the coming months, including musical concerts starting on October 21, lectures on the fine arts as well as revival concerts from its archives. Details about these activities will be released in due course.