San Pawl tal-Ħġejjeġ, also known as the Church of Saint Paul’s Shipwreck, is one of Malta’s most meaningful Pauline shrines. Located in St Paul’s Bay, near the Għajn Rażul fountain, it is traditionally linked to the events described in the Acts of the Apostles: this is believed to be the area where a bonfire was lit to warm the shipwreck survivors after Saint Paul’s arrival in Malta in 60 AD, and where the apostle was bitten by the viper yet remained unharmed. The name Ħġejjeġ itself means “bonfires.”
The date of the original church is unknown, but it is certainly ancient and was rebuilt several times. In 1536, Jean Quintin described it as a “church of great worship,” and later sources mention it as a place where the sick sought healing. Over the centuries, the church preserved valuable artworks linked to Saint Paul’s shipwreck, the miracle of the viper, and the healing of the sick.
Its history is especially connected with Grand Master Alof de Wignacourt, whose devotion to Saint Paul shaped the site in the early 17th century. While strengthening the coast with a defensive tower, he also had the church rebuilt nearby, enriching it artistically and spiritually. The new church was blessed on 3 May 1617 and later formally linked with St Paul’s Grotto in Rabat through the Wignacourt Foundation, creating an important chain of Pauline devotion across Malta. Damaged during World War II, it was rebuilt afterwards following its historic design. Today it remains a place where biblical memory, local identity and devotion still meet.
- Address
WCX4+PQF, Triq, St Paul’s Bay, Malta - Web
None - Visiting Hours
Unknown - What to see
San Pawl tal-Ħġejjeġ Church, the nearby Għajn Rażul fountain
