Over 500 rare and stunning crucifixes from around the world are currently on display at a private residence in Gudja.
Jesmond Farrugia has been collecting crucifixes for the past 30 years but his family has been interested in these symbols of Christian faith for generations.
“Some of these crucifixes have been passed down from one generation to the next. Others I bought locally or from abroad, but a good number were donated to us,” Mr Farrugia said.
His exhibition Crocefisso has grown significantly since it was first held five years ago.
“We started out with about 300 crucifixes and now have close to 600,” Mr Farrugia, who shares his passion for these artefacts with his son Rosaire, said.
There are crucifixes of various sizes, materials, styles and origins. One of the oldest dates back to around 1600 and is a replica of a crucifix from Enna, Sicily, which belonged to a local named Lucarda Barbara. This particular crucifix made the rounds in Gudja until the 1940s as it was believed to be miraculous.
A ‘miraculous’ crucifix is one of the oldest items on display.“We still get people who come to pray in front of this crucifix. Others recall having it at their home and tell me anecdotes,” Mr Farrugia remarked.
There are about 17 crucifixes in all from Enna, which is associated with these religious artefacts, and also a set of crucifixes from Oberammergau, a municipality in the Bavarian Alps that is famous for its once-in-a-decade performance of the Passion Play.
“Each decade, a new crucifix is built. We have some replicas but also an original crucifix used in one of the plays staged in the early 20th century,” Mr Farrugia explained.
A crucifix, dating circa 1800, which originated in Avignon, France, reflects the schism within the Roman Catholic Church between the late 14th and early 15th century and features Christ still alive with his head tilted towards the left instead of the right.
“This means he is looking towards the bad thief,” Mr Farrugia pointed out.
“This cross is full of symbolism, with the fleur-de-lys representing the Holy Trinity and a serpent surrounding a globe, symbolising evil.”
Works by famous local artists such as Carlo Darmanin, Francesco Saverio Sciortino, brother of sculptor Antonio Sciortino, and Wistin Camilleri are also on display.
Some of the crucifixes are reliquaries or form part of holy water fonts. Others were used during pilgrimages, including a cross dated 1887, which travelled from France to the Holy Land.
A number of crucifixes are framed, including one made of wax and decorated with ganutell, which is over a 100 years old, and others which Mr Farrugia brought from the Black Forest area in Germany.
As regards materials, one finds clay and papier-mâché, Maltese and Neapolitan silver, wood, mother-of-pearl (madreperla) from Jerusalem, ivory, ebony, biscuit porcelain, mosaic, metal and marble.
There are also crucifixes made of Maltese stone and cows’ bones. Some were even made by World War II soldiers from aircraft parts.
Mr Farrugia, who would like to eventually open a museum, does a lot of research prior to, and after, acquiringa crucifix.
He knows the history and make of each one on display, which he gladly relates to visitors.
The exhibition gains a particular aura on Maundy Thursday, when the space is lit up with over 200 tea candles. “Some people decide to visit again on this day just to experience the unique atmosphere,” Mr Farrugia said.
Crocefisso is open daily for viewing at ‘Del Fiore’, Triq Ħal-Resqun, Gudja, between 5 and 9pm, and on Saturday, Sundays and public holidays from 9am to 1pm.
On Maundy Thursday, it is open from 9am to 1pm and from 3pm to 1am, while on Good Friday, one can visit the exhibition from 8am to 2pm. For more information, visit the event’s Facebook page.
