Birkirkara

The grand processional statue of Saint Helen, patron saint of Birkirkara, was commissioned in 1833 by local philanthropist Vincenzo Borg, known as Brared. Crafted by renowned 19th-century sculptor Salvu Psaila, the statue was carved from polychromed and gilded wood and stands over two metres tall. Originally built in a countryside villa in Birkirkara, it was meant to be inaugurated with great fanfare. However, celebrations were halted due to a cholera outbreak that same year. The statue was instead quietly transported to the church for Brared’s funeral.