The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Mellieha is Malta’s oldest Marian shrine, built over a cave grotto in the northern part of the island. According to tradition, St. Paul and his companions worshipped in this very cave following his shipwreck, making it one of the earliest sites of Christian devotion on Malta, dating back to around AD 60.
A fresco of the Madonna and Child, believed by some to have been painted by St. Luke himself, is preserved on the cave wall and remains an object of deep devotion for pilgrims and the Maltese faithful alike. The shrine’s quiet, unassuming setting stands in contrast to the grandeur of Valletta’s churches, offering pilgrims a humble place for contemplation close to where Christianity’s roots on the island first took hold.
Photo: Frank Vincentz, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
