St Paul's Catacombs: A Journey Through Malta's Early Christian History

St Paul's Catacombs, located in Rabat, Malta, represent the earliest and largest archaeological evidence of Christianity on the island. These interconnected, underground Roman cemeteries were in use up to the 7th or 8th centuries AD. The catacombs are named after St. Paul, who is believed to have been shipwrecked on Malta in AD 60, and who sought refuge in a grotto nearby.The catacombs are part of a larger cemetery that was once located outside the walls of the ancient Roman city of Melite (now Mdina and Rabat). Roman law prohibited burials within the city walls, leading to the creation of this extensive burial ground. The complex covers over 2,000 square meters and contains a network of underground galleries and tombs. Visitors can explore over 20 of the catacombs, each varying in size and splendor.The site features a variety of tomb types, including the elaborately carved baldacchino tombs for the wealthy and simple floor tombs for the poor. Agape tables, circular tables hewn out of the rock, were used for commemorative meals during annual festivals of the dead. The catacombs also reveal the coexistence of various religious communities, including pagans, Christians, and Jews, with menorahs, crosses, and Latin inscriptions found on the walls.In the 13th century, during the re-Christianization of Malta, part of the catacombs were re-cut and used as a Christian shrine, decorated with murals. The site was first fully investigated in 1894 by Dr. Antonio Annetto Caruana. Today, Heritage Malta manages the catacombs, ensuring their preservation and accessibility to the public.