St John’s Co-Cathedral Foundation Launches “Where Light Meets Legacy” – Illuminating and Preserving Malta’s Baroque Masterpiece

The St John’s Co-Cathedral Foundation has unveiled Where Light Meets Legacy, an ambitious initiative that unites two landmark projects: the completion of an intelligent

LED lighting system and the launch of a major fundraising campaign for the restoration of Mattia Preti’s magnificent Baroque ceiling. Together, these efforts embody the

Foundation’s mission to illuminate Malta’s sacred heritage while safeguarding it for future generations.

 

St John’s Co-Cathedral, one of Europe’s most celebrated Baroque landmarks, has recently completed a transformative lighting project that brings new life to its sacred

interior, harmonising art, architecture, faith, and sustainability under one radiant vision. The new system marks a historic milestone, 112 years after the Co-Cathedral first

transitioned from candlelight to electricity. It replaces outdated halogen and metal-halide fittings with over 350 museum-grade LED luminaires, reducing energy consumption by more than 50% while revealing every brushstroke, carving, and gilded detail with renewed clarity.

 

President of the St John’s Co-Cathedral Foundation, Colonel Dr Mark Mallia, emphasised the significance of this achievement, stating:

“The new lighting system is far more than a technical enhancement – it is an act of reverence, bringing to life every brushstroke and gilded carving, allowing visitors to

experience St John’s Co-Cathedral as Mattia Preti envisioned it – radiant, contemplative, and alive with divine light. ‘Where Light Meets Legacy’ is more than our campaign’s name;

it is our mission – to illuminate the past while preserving the future.” Mgr Prof Emmanuel Agius echoed this sentiment, noting that “this new lighting installation should not be celebrated solely as a commendable technical enhancement; it should also be interpreted as a vibrant symbol of illumination – a light that reveals beauty, inspires devotion, and elicits our inner spiritual response. This lighting system will help every visitor and worshipper to savour and experience the splendour of Preti’s ceiling in all its dramatic glory, and intensify the contemplative atmosphere that defines this sacred space.”

 

Alongside this milestone, the Foundation has launched a six-year, €6 million fundraising campaign for the restoration of Mattia Preti’s monumental ceiling, a masterpiece that

remains both a symbol of Malta’s cultural identity and a defining achievement of 17th-century European art. Executed between 1661 and 1666, Preti’s decorative cycle

depicting the life of St John the Baptist now shows signs of deterioration caused by humidity, environmental factors, and the passage of time. This underscores the urgency

for conservation.Colonel Mallia further remarked that “the restoration of Mattia Preti’s vault is not merely about conserving art, but about safeguarding the soul of our nation’s heritage. Each contribution helps ensure that this masterpiece, and the light of faith and artistry it represents, endures for generations to come.”

 

In his address, Mgr Prof Emmanuel Agius remarked that the fundraising campaign for the conservation of the Preti vault “calls for a generosity of heart and vision – it is one that can

only succeed through the collaborative synergy of our esteemed partners: the business community, philanthropic institutions, and individual benefactors who, like the Knights

of old, understand and appreciate the enduring value of such enterprises for the common good.”

 

The restoration project will combine historical research, advanced diagnostics, and multidisciplinary conservation techniques under the guidance of a scientific committee

made up of internationally recognised experts together with the team at St John’s Co-Cathedral. It will stabilise and clean the painted surfaces, strengthen the underlying

stone structure, and protect the vault from future deterioration. This will ensure that this extraordinary work continues to inspire awe for centuries to come.

 

Together, the new lighting system and the restoration campaign mark a defining moment for St John’s Co-Cathedral. It is a harmonious meeting of light and legacy that reaffirms

the Foundation’s enduring commitment to the preservation and celebration of Malta’s spiritual and cultural heritage.

 

For more information or to contribute, visit www.stjohnscocathedral.com/fundraising or email fundraising@stjohnscocathedral.com.