Ex votos are humble yet powerful tokens, found in sanctuaries and churches, testifying to miracles, protection, and transformation, each one a story of faith fulfilled. An ex voto, put simply, is a votive offering to God or a saint.Although the term has been used to refer to this kind of offerings in many different religions, it is more commonly understood as restricted to Christian examples. The offering is given in fulfillment of a vow or as a token of gratitude or devotion.
As is the case with ancient Greek, Egyptian and Mesopotamian civilizations, the tradition of vows in Malta goes back to the Neolithic Temple Era, as proved by archaeological evidence, with inscriptions that clearly show they were objects offered as vows to the gods. Case in point, we also find depictions from the time of Homer showing divinities assisting humans in their difficulties. By the Middle Ages, ex voto paintings became the most popular form of thanksgiving, particularly in maritime communities, where sailors and merchants often found themselves in peril at sea.
Offerings take all forms
Offering of vows was adopted by the Catholic Church as well. A votive offering is intrinsically a tangible form of gratitude for God’s help in a crisis. This personal relationship between God and man is central in Christianity, where God becomes man in order to save humanity. Ex votos are not only intended for the faithful making the pledge or receiving the grace, but also as a testimony to later visitors, and generations, of the divine intervention on their behalf.
In churches and sanctuaries across the Maltese Islands, there are many types and forms of ex votos. There are also entire churches that have been built and paid to fulfill a vow – the church itself is an ex voto. Examples include the chapel dedicated to the Madonna in Wied Speranza in Mosta, and the Sarria church of the Immaculate Conception built by the Order of Malta. However, the most common forms by far are paintings, followed by metal images of body parts, baby clothes, medical items (crutches, casts, etc.), handcuffs, pieces of sails and ropes from sea vessels, grants of money and gold, wax and oil for lamps.
So far, no votive paintings older than those in Naples at “Madonna dell’ Arco,” which date to the 16th century, had been identified. As in other Christian countries in the Mediterranean, Malta’s unwritten religious history is archived in many churches, by means of paintings representing graces granted and devotions. As a general rule these paintings illustrate miraculous happenings resulting in the survival of the work’s patron. Generally, the letters VFGA -- Votum Fecit, Gratiam Accepit (“I made the vow and I received the grace”) -- are inscribed on many of these artworks, bearing witness to lives changed through faith. The earliest in Naples were executed on panels, whereas in Malta the medium was canvas, which helped to preserve these treasures well. The oldest Maltese votive painting, identified in a paper authored by A. Cuschieri and J. Muscat, goes back to 1631. This painting is part of the collection in the museum of the parish church of Our Lady of Graces of Żabbar. Cuschieri and Muscat also maintain that older paintings may be present in Malta, but further research is necessary, since determining dates in this field is very difficult. The Zabbar sanctuary alone contains numerous votive paintings, many depicting miraculous rescues at sea, where ships caught in violent storms were saved after desperate prayers to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Marian devotion and the power of hope
Paintings and churches recording the mediation of the Madonna outnumber those offered to other saints. Many shrines, such as Our Lady of Mellieħa, Our Lady of Mercy in Qrendi, and the National Shrine of Ta’ Pinu in Gozo, overflow with these offerings. They show the deep trust the Maltese always had in the Blessed Virgin, especially in times of crisis, ranging from personal problems, to tragic events and to national calamities. Quite a few of the paintings may seem rudimentary. Nonetheless, they are immortal reminders to Marian devotion in the Maltese Islands throughout the centuries. On the other hand, some paintings have the signature of great painters, such as the one in the chapel of the Immaculate Conception of Sarria, attributed to Mattia Preti, commissioned by the Knights of Malta to design the church and decorate it with his paintings, as thanksgiving to the Madonna for hearing their plea to lift the plague. It is the only church designed by Preti, which is also a showcase of his masterpieces. Another one is by Anton Inglott in the Madonna tal-Ħlas of Qormi. Also, many votive offerings are painted by the so-called Madonnari, who were artists specialized in producing ex voto paintings.
The term itself proves that in times of trial the Maltese instinctively consecrated themselves to the Blessed Virgin Mary. These artists were extremely skilled and polished in the art of conveying and preserving the graces granted and miraculous happenings. The Madonnari did not have Preti’s or Inglott’s skill; nevertheless, they were very competent in reproducing the idea of the donors. They followed the same techniques as those in Venice, Naples, and other places around the Mediterranean.
The Sanctuary of the Assumption of Taż-Żellieqa, Għargħur, another remarkable site of Marian devotion, owes its origin to a miraculous healing. According to tradition, in 1560 the Virgin Mary appeared to a sick young woman and cured her. Out of gratitude, the girl built a chapel dedicated to the Assumption. Though rebuilt in 1650, it retains its spiritual significance and continues to inspire devotion among locals, who still bring their children to be blessed here. The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Good Hope is tucked into a valley in Mosta, home of the majestic Rotunda Basilca of the Assumption. This small church was built above a cave where a young woman hid from pirates in the 18th century. Saved through what she believed was Mary’s intercession, she fulfilled her vow by constructing this chapel. The sanctuary now includes a statue of the girl and ex-votos left by pilgrims who credit Mary with healing and protection.
A tradition as old as Malta’s Christian identity
Apart from the obvious spiritual significance of ex voto paintings, the huge collection preserved in the Maltese Islands is considered a national heritage. Each and every painting has its own unique story, but in them one also finds details that are not recorded anywhere else, neither in writing nor hidden in some archive or library. For instance, the maritime paintings offer a whole repertoire of different vessels that traveled the seas throughout the centuries. It is interesting to note that the Żabbar museum, of the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Graces, offers the largest representation of galleys of the Order of Malta’s fleet.
The details of ex votos also show the different types of sails, rope arrangements and naval weapons. Those related to healing from illness shed light on what old houses throughout the ages looked like. The paintings are also time capsules of scenes of the Maltese Islands that today exist no longer. Malta’s inestimable collection is surely not at risk of being outdone by any other, both in quantity and quality. In Malta and Gozo a pilgrim, or anyone who is intrigued with such heritage, finds many sanctuaries offering huge exhibits of ex votos.
For those seeking to immerse themselves in this living testimony of faith, Malta and Gozo offer countless sanctuaries filled with ex votos, each one a reminder that God’s providence continues to work in the lives of His people. Sites such as The National Shrine of Our Lady of Mellieħa, home to centuries-old votive offerings from pilgrims who sought Mary’s intercession; the Madonna Tal-Ħerba in Birkirkara, known for its vast collection of maritime ex votos; Our Lady of Good Hope in Mosta, a chapel built in gratitude for a miraculous rescue from pirates; and the Madonna Tal-Ħlas in Qormi, where expectant mothers have left baby clothes and tokens of thanksgiving for safe childbirth.
From the past to the present: The continuity of faith
Though the materials may have changed over the centuries, the tradition of ex-votos remains alive today. Alongside traditional paintings and silver hearts, modern offerings include photographs, newspaper clippings, prosthetics and even digital testimonies. The Shrine of Ta’ Pinu in Gozo and other sanctuaries continue to receive ex votos from people who have experienced miraculous healings. For example, new maritime ex votos are still placed in Żabbar by those who survive storms at sea. One of the most recent ex-votos, donated in 2012, tells the story of Carmen Axiaq, whose husband, Mario, was lost at sea. Through fervent prayer, she pleaded for his safe return, promising to make an offering if he survived. Against all odds, Mario was rescued, and Carmen fulfilled her vow by commissioning a votive painting, continuing a centuries-old tradition of faith renewed.
Final thoughts
Through ex-votos, we see that hope is never passive -- it is a dynamic force that transforms hearts, inspires gratitude, and strengthens faith. Whether in the painted pleas of a sailor lost at sea, the silver tokens of a mother whose child was healed, or the grand churches built in thanksgiving, these offerings remind us that God is near, personal, attentive, and ever ready to answer our prayers. It is close to impossible not to realize, even for those not historically minded, that in ex voto paintings our ancestors have a story to narrate to posterity. The hardships, perils and humiliation they suffered, the fears faced, the tears they shed, and the help from Heaven that came their way!
An invitation to walk in faith
What better way to rekindle your spiritual life than by walking a path paved with centuries of faith and gratitude? Those who wish to deepen their connection to this rich tradition can embark on the Melita Mariana Project, a 60-kilometer pilgrimage through Malta and Gozo, tracing the footsteps of devotion that have shaped the islands.
Make sure to visit the slideshow below to explore more faith in the Maltese archipelago!
This article has been brought to you in partnership with VisitMalta
