Saint John's Co-Cathedral facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St John's Co-Cathedral |
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Kon-Katidral ta' San Ġwann
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Façade of St John's Co-Cathedral in 2020
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| 35°53′52″N 14°30′46″E / 35.89778°N 14.51278°E | |
| Location | Valletta |
| Country | Malta |
| Denomination | Catholic Church |
| Website | www.stjohnscocathedral.com |
| History | |
| Former name(s) | Conventual Church of St. John The Major Conventual and Parochial Church of the Jerosolymitan Order dedicated to St John the Baptist |
| Status | Co-cathedral |
| Founder(s) | Jean de la Cassière |
| Dedication | John the Baptist |
| Consecrated | 20 February 1578 |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade 1 |
| Designated | 2008 |
| Architect(s) | Girolamo Cassar |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Mannerist (exterior) Baroque (interior) |
| Groundbreaking | 1572 |
| Completed | 1577 |
| Specifications | |
| Length | 65 metres (213 ft) |
| Width | 40 metres (130 ft) |
| Nave width | 20 metres (66 ft) |
| Materials | Limestone |
| Administration | |
| Archdiocese | Archdiocese of Malta |
St John's Co-Cathedral (which in Maltese is Kon-Katidral ta' San Ġwann) is a beautiful Catholic church in Valletta, Malta. It is dedicated to John the Baptist. The church was built by the Order of St. John between 1573 and 1578. Grand Master Jean de la Cassière asked for it to be built. It was first known as the Conventual Church of Saint John.
The church was designed by a Maltese architect named Girolamo Cassar. He also designed many other important buildings in Valletta. In the 1600s, the inside of the church was redecorated. This was done in the Baroque style by Mattia Preti and other artists. Many people think the church's interior is one of the best examples of Baroque art in Europe.
Contents
History of the Cathedral
After a big battle called the Great Siege of Malta in 1565, Grand Master Jean de la Cassière ordered the building of St. John's Co-Cathedral in 1572. It was first called Chiesa Conventuale di San Giovanni Battista in Italian. The architect, Girolamo Cassar, designed many important buildings in Valletta. He might have used plans from a church in Rhodes as a starting point. But Cassar made his own changes, so he is the only architect of the co-cathedral.
The church was finished in 1577. It became the main church for the Order of St. John. Before this, their main church was St. Lawrence's Church, Vittoriosa in Birgu. The oratory and sacristy (rooms next to the main church) were started in 1598. They were finished in 1604 by Grand Master Alof de Wignacourt.
For about 100 years, the inside of the church was quite simple. But in the 1660s, Grand Master Raphael Cotoner wanted to make it more grand. He wanted it to be as beautiful as the churches in Rome. An artist from Italy, Mattia Preti, was put in charge. He completely changed the inside to the Baroque style. Later, more parts were added to the sides of the cathedral. These additions show the coat of arms of Grand Master António Manoel de Vilhena, who ruled from 1722 to 1736.
St. John's was the Order's main church until the French took over Malta in 1798. Over time, it became as important as the archbishop's main church, St. Paul's Cathedral, Mdina, in Mdina. In the 1820s, the Bishop of Malta was allowed to use St John's as another main church. This is how it officially became a co-cathedral.
In 1831, a famous writer named Sir Walter Scott said the cathedral had the "most striking interior" he had ever seen. In the mid-1800s, some of the Baroque art was removed. This included an altar in the Chapel of the Langue of France.
The outside of the cathedral was slightly damaged in 1941 during World War II. It almost got completely destroyed. Luckily, all the artworks inside had been moved to a safe place before the bombing. So, no art was lost.
The cathedral was repaired between the late 1980s and early 1990s. In 2001, a special group was created to look after the cathedral and its museum. The sides of the cathedral were restored from 2008 to 2010. A full restoration of the outside started in July 2014. This work was led by architect Jean Frendo and eight restorers. The middle part of the front was finished in September 2015.
Today, the cathedral is one of the most popular places for tourists to visit in Malta. It is also listed on the National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands.
Outside of the Cathedral
The outside of the cathedral is built in the Mannerist style. This was typical of its architect, Girolamo Cassar. The front of the building looks quite simple but is well-balanced. It has two large bell towers on either side. The main entrance has columns that support a balcony. From this balcony, the Grand Master would speak to the people on important days. There are also two empty spaces on the side.
Overall, the outside looks quite serious and strong, like a fortress. This shows Cassar's style as a military engineer. It also reflects how the Order felt after the Great Siege of Malta in 1565.
Inside of the Cathedral
The inside of the cathedral is very fancy and decorated. This is very different from its plain outside. Most of the inside was decorated by Mattia Preti, an Italian artist and knight, during the Baroque period. Preti designed the detailed carved stone walls. He also painted the arched ceiling and the altars on the sides. These paintings show scenes from the life of John the Baptist.
The figures painted on the ceiling near each column look like real 3D statues at first. But if you look closely, you'll see that the artist used shadows and clever placement to create this amazing trick. It's also special that all the carvings were done directly on the walls. They were not carved separately and then attached. The Maltese limestone used to build the cathedral is perfect for such detailed carving. The entire marble floor is made up of tombs. About 400 Knights and officers of the Order are buried there. There is also a crypt (an underground room) where Grand Masters like Jean Parisot de Valette are buried.
In 1666, a plan for the main altar was approved. It was designed by Malta's greatest sculptor, Melchiorre Cafà. Cafà planned a large sculpture of the Baptism of Christ made of bronze. But Cafà sadly died in 1667 in an accident while working on this in Rome. So, the plans were stopped. In 1703, Giuseppe Mazzuoli, Cafà's only student, finished a marble sculpture of the Baptism of Christ.
The tomb of Grand Master Marc'Antonio Zondadari (who died in 1722) is near the main entrance. He was the nephew of Pope Alexander VII. This tomb was originally meant for the Chapel of the Langue of Italy. But it was too big, so it was placed in the main part of the church.
Chapels Inside the Cathedral
The cathedral has nine chapels. One is for Our Lady of Philermos. The others are for the patron saints of each of the Order's eight langues (or divisions). Here are the chapels on the south side of the church:
- Chapel of Our Lady of Philermos: This chapel is also called the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament. It used to hold a special image of Our Lady of Philermos. The Order had this image since the Crusades. But it was taken to Russia in 1798. Now it is in the National Museum of Montenegro.
- Chapel of the Langue of Auvergne: This chapel is for Saint Sebastian. Its main painting shows the saint being martyred. It is from the 1600s. Grand Master Annet de Clermont-Gessant (who died in 1660) is buried here.
- Chapel of the Langue of Aragon: This chapel is for Saint George. Its main painting, Saint George on Horseback, is considered one of Mattia Preti's best works. Several Grand Masters are buried here, including Martin de Redin (died 1660) and Nicolas Cotoner (died 1680).
- Chapel of the Langue of Castile, Leon and Portugal: This chapel is for Saint James. Its main painting shows the saint in a beautiful way. It was painted by Mattia Preti. Grand Masters António Manoel de Vilhena (died 1736) and Manuel Pinto da Fonseca (died 1773) are buried in fancy marble tombs in this chapel.
On the north side of the church, you will find these chapels:
- Chapel of the Anglo-Bavarian Langue: This chapel is also called the Chapel of Relics. It is for Saint Charles Borromeo. Its main painting shows the saint being presented to the Virgin Mary. This chapel used to hold many holy relics that the Order collected over hundreds of years. But these were removed in 1798.
- Chapel of the Langue of Provence: This chapel is for Saint Michael the Archangel. Its main painting shows the archangel leading God's armies against Satan. It also has marble tombs for Grand Masters Antoine de Paule (died 1636) and Giovanni Paolo Lascaris (died 1657).
- Chapel of the Langue of France: This chapel is for the Conversion of Saint Paul. Its main painting, The Conversion of St Paul on the Way to Damascus, is by Mattia Preti. This chapel also has tombs for Grand Masters Adrien de Wignacourt (died 1697) and Emmanuel de Rohan-Polduc (died 1797).
- Chapel of the Langue of Italy: This chapel is for the Immaculate Conception and Saint Catherine of Alexandria. Its main painting, The Mystic Marriage of St Catherine, is by Mattia Preti. Grand Master Gregorio Carafa (died 1690) is buried here.
- Chapel of the Langue of Germany: This chapel is for the Epiphany of Christ. It was first for the English langue, but then given to the German langue after the English Reformation. Its main painting, The Adoration of the Magi, is by the Maltese painter Stefano Erardi.
Famous Artworks
The painting called The Beheading of Saint John the Baptist (1608) by Caravaggio (1571–1610) is the most famous artwork in the church. It is one of Caravaggio's best works. It is the largest painting he ever made and the only one he signed. You can see it in the Oratory, which is where it was painted for. This painting was restored in the late 1990s. It shows Caravaggio's amazing use of chiaroscuro (strong contrasts between light and dark). A circle of light brightens the scene where St John is beheaded. The Oratory also has Caravaggio's Saint Jerome Writing (1607–1608).
Another impressive part of the church is the collection of marble tombstones on the floor of the main area. Important knights were buried here. The most important knights were buried closer to the front of the church. These tombstones are richly decorated with inlaid marble. They show the coats of arms of the knight buried below. They also have pictures that tell stories of the knight's victories in battle. They create a rich and detailed display in the church.
Next to the church is the St John's Co-Cathedral Museum. It has many art objects. Some of the things in the museum are the Flemish Tapestries. These were designed by Peter Paul Rubens and given by Grand Master Ramon Perellos y Roccaful. There are also paintings of Grand Masters Jean de la Cassière, Nicolas Cotoner and Manuel Pinto da Fonseca. You can also see paintings that used to be in the side chapels, like St. George killing the Dragon by Francesco Potenzano.
Visiting the Cathedral
St. John's Co-Cathedral is in the middle of Valletta. It's a short walk from the bus station near City Gate. The main entrance is in St John's Square. But visitors enter from Great Siege Square on Republic Street, across from the Law Courts.
The cathedral is open to visitors from Monday to Friday, from 10:30 AM to 2:30 PM. The last entry is at 2:00 PM. On Saturdays, it's open from 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM, with the last entry at 12:00 PM. It is closed on Sundays and public holidays.
As of October 2022, the ticket price is €15 for adults. It's €12 for students or senior citizens. Children under 12 can enter for free if an adult is with them. The ticket includes an audio guide. These guides are available in many languages, including Maltese, English, Italian, French, German, Spanish, Japanese and Russian.
If you are only visiting the cathedral for Mass (a church service), you do not need to pay the entrance fee.
Images for kids
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Logo of St. John's Co-Cathedral
See also
In Spanish: Concatedral de San Juan (La Valeta) para niños
- Culture of Malta
- History of Malta
- List of churches in Malta
- List of works by James Pradier
- Religion in Malta
