Lesson 3 - Piracy and Legends

Text by Christian Debono/Michael Portelli; Design by Martin Galea De Giovanni

 
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Saint Dimitri
An old woman named Zgugina lived with her son in an old house in the village of Gharb in Gozo. They lived close to the chapel of San Dimitri and Zgugina would go there praying everyday for San Dimitri to offer protection to her son. It was a time when pirates would often attack the Maltese Islands. One day a ship full of pirates landed near Gharb.

These pirates attacked the village and also took Zgugina's son in chains as a slave. Zgugina went into the chapel and prayed in front of the painting of San Dimitri; she made a vow that if he would save her son she would light a votive lamp everyday in the chapel.

The story says that at this point Zgugina saw the painting moving, and out of it came San Dimitri on his white horse. The Saint went on the sea chasing the pirates' ship. Zgugina continued praying and some time later Dimitri returned with Zgugina's son in his arm, and the Saint went back in the painting. Zgugina continued to light the votive lamp each day of her life. Many years passed, and an earthquake shocked the land and the chapel fell into the sea where it lay undamaged on the seabed.

The legend says that fishermen still see the light from Zgugina's candle from underwater.

San Dimitri Chapel in Gharb, Gozo