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| Church of St. Gregory the Great at Kercem |
The village of
Kercem lies close by to the south-east of
Victoria; this village has the most beautiful landscapes in the
Island of Gozo.
Archaeological Discoveries show that the sizeable area of
Kercem was inhabited as early as the
Ghar Dalam Phase (5000-4500 BC). The Roman Baths and an early Christian cemetery at Ghar Gerduf, referred to by Gozitan historian De Soldanis as Roman Catacombs, are also significant discoveries.
Kercem evolved into a village community in the late
Middle Ages, around an ancient chapel dedicated to
Pope St. Gregory the Great built around 1581. The site gained historical importance due to the annual
Traditional St. Gregory Procession from the
Matrix Church in Rabat (Victoria) to this
Medieval Chapel,
upon the saint's feast, namely on the 12th of March. The chapel was
however replaced by the present parish church in 1851 which in turn was
expanded later on to its present state in between 1906-1910. It
foundation stone was laid at the end of the procession on the
Feast of Saint Gregory on 12 march 1846. It was consecrated on 22 October 1912. The village was established a parish church on 10 March 1885.
The Village Church was traditionally dedicated to
Pope St. Gregory, but since 17th August 1885, the church was additionally co-dedicated to
Our Lady of Perpetual Help.
