The Chapel of St Nicholas also referred to as the Chapel of San Niklaw is a 17th-century chapel located in the outskirts of
Å»ejtun, in an area referred to as ''Ħal-Ä inwi'' in
Malta.
History
The cult of
Saint Nicholas
Saint Nicholas of Myra, ; la, Sanctus Nicolaus (traditionally 15 March 270 – 6 December 343), also known as Nicholas of Bari, was an early Christian bishop of Greeks, Greek descent from the maritime city of Myra in Asia Minor (; modern-da ...
was probably introduced in Malta by devotees from
Sicily during the
Middle Ages. The area were the chapel arises was originally known as ''Il-Kasar'', although by 1500 it was already known as ''San Niklaw''.
Some records mention that the chapel was built in 1504.
Reference to this chapel is made by inquisitor
Pietro Dusina during his apostolic visit to Malta in 1575. The 1575 report mentions that the feast of St Nicholas was celebrated with vespers and mass and that the chapel fell under the jurisdiction of the parish of
Żejtun. The chapel served the people living in small hamlets, now disappeared, which existed in the chapel's vicinity.
The present chapel was built in 1640, reflecting 17th century architecture. Nowadays the chapel is part of the privately owned San Niklaw Estate which cares for the chapel and celebrates the annual feast of St Nicholas on December 6.
"San Niklaw Chapel"
, ''San Niklaw Estate'', 2012. Retrieved on 18 September 2016.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Chapel of St Nicholas, Żejtun
17th-century Roman Catholic church buildings in Malta
Roman Catholic chapels in Malta
Żejtun
National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands
Limestone churches in Malta