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A high attic
with large windows supports the twin-ribbed vaults.
These are fields of fresco by Roman artist Virginio Monti ,
which were completed in 1910. The fresco cycle narrates the
story of the saint and the triumph of the cross. This
culminates in the Last Judgement which is depicted in the
powerful dome carried on a high drum with coupled fluted ionic
pilasters.
The undersides
of the arches leading to the side-chapels along the nave and
beyond the transcepts are richly carved and gilded, as are the
altar reredoses. The lesser domes and upper reaches of the
side-chapels are also richly painted by Filippo Venuti, Joseph
Briffa and Gianni Vella.
The greater
part of the altarpieces and other accompanying paintings in
the area beyond the nave are by Francesco Zahra, that prolific
genius of Maltese eighteenth century baroque painting, who
deserves better international acknowledgement. The twelve
altars are fine works in polychrome marble - the main one by
Salvatore Psaila who in 1837 also carved the majestic wood
processional statue of S. Helen.
This statue was
donated to the church by no less than the local patriot
Vincenzo Borg, who rose to fame by his leadership during the
two-year blockade of the French after the 1798 insurrection.
The statue is solemnly carried in procession twice a year: on
the third of May in commemoration of the finding of the True
Cross by the empress saint, and on her feast-day proper round
about the 18th of August. This is the only procession in Malta
that is held on a morning .
Other fine
works of art include statuary in polychrome wood or papier
mache', like the early eighteenth century (if not earlier)
statue of Our Lady of the Rosary, S. Joseph by V. Dimech and
various by Carlo Darmanin - these last include a six-figure
group of the Madonna delivering the souls from purgatory.
Notable also is the altarpiece in the chapel of S. Andrew, a
seventeenth century work coming from
the Old Church
of the Assumption. Round about the time of the titular feast
one could also admire the gilt and sumptuously embroidered
canopy over the main altar and the fine hammered silver
antependium.
S. Helen's is
the seat of a Capitular Chapter, this having been erected in
the Old Church through the effort and by means of endowments
of Dun Filippo Borg in 1630. In 1950 it was also granted
Basilical statues.
Click here
for information about St Helen's big bell.
Information
taken from
www.birkirkaraonline.com |
