Girolamo Manduca's 'De Sancto Publio'

Girolamo Manduca, among the earliest Maltese members of the Society of Jesus, undertook the compilation of local traditions concerning Publius, the protos of the island, who, according to the Acts of the Apostles, hosted the Apostle Paul and his shipwrecked companions for several days. Manduca is reputed to have drawn upon unspecified ancient sources—both textual and oral—in assembling these accounts.

For the past three centuries, certain details included in Manduca’s narrative have been widely regarded as historical facts: specifically, that Publius was appointed the first bishop of Malta and was subsequently transferred to Athens, where he met martyrdom.

This public lecture will examine the passages in Manduca’s text that pertain explicitly to Malta, situating them within the historical context in which they were composed. It will also offer a plausible hypothesis concerning the construction of the figure of Saint Publius as martyr and first bishop of Malta during the early 17th century.

Speaker:

Prof. Rev. Jonathan Farrugia
University of Malta

Entrance is free but donations are welcome.
Access is from Archbishop Street

You may also like the following events from The Jesuits' Church Foundation:

• This Thursday, 8th January, 07:30 pm, Kutri u Kotba in Valletta
• Next Thursday, 15th January, 07:30 pm, Baroque Trio Sonatas: Corelli & Beyond in Valletta
• This month, 25th January, 03:00 pm, Pietre Vive at the Oratories (Free Guided Visits) in Valletta

Also check out other Nonprofit events in Valletta.