Latins versus Uniates in sixteenth century Malta

Abstract

On their expulsion from Rhodes in January 1523 the Knights of St John were followed by a Greek refugee community which originally numbered around 5,000 in 1530. Most of these had eventually settled in Birgu and came to form three Greek parishes there. It seems that during the first few decades of the Order's rule matters went relatively well for the Greek Catholic minority. Thus during his Apostolic Visit to Malta between 1574-1575 Mgr Pietro Dusina noted that the three of them catered for 74 households within the city renamed Vittoriosa. Mgr Dusina even interviewed three Greek rite priests namely Papas Manoli Greco, Papas Joanne de Jasorino and Papas Angelino Metaxi all of whom were asked questions about their ordination and several other general questions. The priests gave details on the rituals involved during baptism, marriage and burial. They also explained that they did not confess penitents because only the elderly priests did so in the Greek rite but they performed the extreme unction to sick. All rituals were carried out according to the Greek rite and they followed Greek rite books closely. Most importantly Papas Manoli declared that he taught Christian doctrine to children in conformity to the Greek rite. By 1587, the most important of these parishes, the one dedicated to Our Lady of Damascus, was transferred to Valletta, while by 1617 the other two parishes had ceased to function. The existence of the Greek community was already flagging by the end of the sixteenth century, though the use of the Greek language survived well into the seventeenth century. Those Greeks, attracted by commerce and work opportunities, who settled in Malta naturally abided to the Byzantine rite whose representatives made their utmost to remain undisturbed in their jurisdiction. But the number of faithful who adhered to such congregations continued to diminish so that a general decline in the Greek community could be noticed by the middle of the seventeenth century. However, one can still find records and evidence of the existence of this community in Malta.