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The Hermit of Xewkija

The Chapel of Our Lady of Mercy on the outskirts of Xewkija on the main road to Mgarr must have been very different from that of today, since it is now surrounded by new buildings and has to endure a continuous flow of traffic a few meters away from its main door.

Many years ago, a hermit monk lived in this chapel. He was a holy man with many gifts including the ability to foretell the future, He was kept busy all day long, with people continually knocking on the door of his hermitage.

One winter night the monk was awakened by loud knocking on his door of his sacristy. When he opened the door he saw a stranger asking him to help him. He asked him if he can go to his home and convince his dying father to make confession. The hermit was suddenly beset with sadness and seemed unable to speak. He than told him that the real reason why he came was not about his father but to steal the golden chalice. As the hermit spoke the stranger began to shake uncontrollably. He was terrified to hear the monk reveal his evil intention, but he was more shocked to hear what the monk still had to say. The monk than told the stranger that his father truly died as he was struck by a thunderbolt. As a penitence for the sacrilege he was about to commit the stranger decided to give up his wicked way of life and join the hermit in a life of holiness, hard work and self-sacrifice.

The legend says that the man made a just penitence of the rest of his life and like the hermit died in a state of holiness.

The Lady In White

The villagers of Qala selected a choice site in the centre of their village to erect a shrine in honor of Holy Mary. Building soon started, but work was being delayed due to a strange occurrence. Daily consignments of stone were unloaded near the chosen site, but each morning villagers were astonished to discover that the consignment vanished during the previous night. The workmen suspected that some unruly villagers were trying to subvert the plan and so decided that some lads will vigil throughout the night to get to the root of the matter.

At sunset they took their position amongst the day’s consignment. The night sank into its small hours without any commotion, At one point however, the vigilantes were alerted by the shouts of one of their fellows. “Look out” he screamed, “That woman over there!” They could see a graceful woman dressed in splendid white. She walked towards them, stopped for a few moments and turned in the direction of Wied il-Marga (the vale of Marga), not so far from the village. The workers saw an incredible phenomenon. The very stones lying on the site were lifted by an invisible force and glided silently also in the direction of Wied il-Marga.

The workers could not believe their own eyes and after a long discussion with the other workers in the morning, they decided to make a second vigil the following night. Strangely enough the same thing happened. They decided that if the same thing happened the next night they will follow the lady in white. That night when the apparition occurred they rallied their courage and walked behind the vision. They reached an area known as “Il-Halq” and here the Lady stopped and vanished. The villagers observed that all consignments of stone were piled up there, undamaged and ready for use.

The next day the elders of the villagers deliberated about the significance of this divine action. They concluded that the mysterious Lady was indeed Holy Mary, and it meant that the planned church should be built on the site chosen by Her. The church was built in the area known as “tal-Halq”, overlooking the charming inlet of Hondoq ir-Rummein, where it stands to the present day.

The Legendary Vision of Ghajnsielem

The Village of Ghajnsielem lies in the south eastern tip of the island overlooking the busy harbor of Imgarr. One tale that focus on Ghajnsielem is the vision where once lived a kind peace living farmer called Anglu Grech.

He was so devout that he recited the holy Rosary even when he was hard at work in his fields. One evening while he was watering his crops he saw a vision of a radiant lady who requested him to erect a statue of Our Lady of Loreto. The vision indicated the site as that where the old parish church now stands.

In spite of the villagers meager means they raised a substantial sum which enabled them to rect a statue on the spot the vision had indicated. After that every night the villagers assembled around the statue and recited the Holy Rosary with great devotion.

The Enchanted Realm of Calypso

Ramla Bay is reputed to be the place where Ullyses, the heroic Greek warrior, met the enchanting queen Calypso. Consequently the island of Gozo is considered by many scholars to be the island of Ogygia. Homer’s Odyssey narrates how Ulysses, after the wars of Troy, set sail for Ithaca were he had left his wife Penelope and only son Telamon. After several adventurous days at sea, his boat was wrecked in a terrible storm near the isle of Ogygia and Ulysses drifted on flotsam to the sandy shore of a large bay.

The goddess-nymph Calypso, who inhabited a cave in the hillside overlooking the bay, rescued Ulysses, took him to her cave and nursed him.

He then wished to sail home, but the nymph delayed his departure for seven long years. She promised him eternal youth if he consented staying with her but he refused, preferring to return to his wife and home in Greece.

He prayed to his gods daily and it was Zeus who ordered Calypso to release the homesick man.

Ulysses sailed from Ogygia on a new ship loaded with presents for himself and his family which was a reward from Calypso and she ordered the winds to blow favorably to help him reach home safely. He arrived Ithaca where he found his wife Penelope at home weaving an unending web while she waited and waited for his return.

The view of the red sandy bay, of the sea and of the Gozo landscape is one of a beauty. Hundreds throng to the place for a look at the legendary abode of the brave hero and the lonely nymph.