The feast of the Holy Crucifix will be celebrated at St Dominic parish church, Valletta, on Friday. The Via Crucis will be held at 5.45pm, followed by Mass celebrated by parish priest Michael Camilleri, OP. A penitential pilgrimage will leave St Dominic church at 7pm for Ta’ Giezu church where Mass will be celebrated at 7.30pm.

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The effigy of the Holy Crucifix venerated at St Dominic church was restored last year by Manwel Zammit of Marsaxlokk. The restoration of the wooden cross was by Frankie Micallef of Valletta.

The Crucifix, sculpted in wood by Giuseppe Mazzeo da Vizzini in 1615, was first put up on the main altar of the old church built in 1571. When the old church was dismantled to make way for the present church, the Crucifix was taken to the convent dormitory.

Old photographs preserved at the church show the Crucifix behind an altar and lit all year round.

When World War II broke out, the Dominicans feared that the church would be destroyed, thus making a vow to the miraculous Crucifix that if the church survived enemy action, they would transfer the cross to the side chapel of Our Lady of Sorrows to replace another one made of papier mache now hanging in the sacristy.

In fact, the church was not hit and the friars, dressed in their Dominican habit with red stoles, transferred the Crucifix from the convent to the church in procession where a great celebration was held.