New Issues: Religious stamps from Europe

In the last few days there have been three new sets of religious stamps released, which I am going to take a look at.

MALTA - Festa

The first of them is from Malta. This is a place I have been to and while I was quite young I just about remember it. Malta has strong Roman Catholic traditions, and is supposed to be a place visited by St Paul. So it isn't too surprising that they often create stamps on a religious theme. The theme for this set is Festa. What is a festa? That's a good question and I didn't know the answer either, but Malta Post has the answer:

"The Maltese village festa is one of the country's most cherished traditions, combining deep religious devotion with a strong sense of community. Held annually in honour of each locality's patron saint, it brings together residents and visitors to celebrate their shared heritage. Throughout the week, solemn church ceremonies are complemented by colourful street decorations, lively band marches, spectacular fireworks, festive gatherings, and the joyful peal of church bells, creating an atmosphere unlike any other." There are ten stamps in the set and they all show different statues of patron saints from across Malta.

Birkirkara - Statue of Our Lady of Mount Carmel

Archives reveal scant details on the commissioning of this statue. However, it is known that during the tenure of Prior Fr Elizew of St Francis it had been decided that the statue should be produced in Lecce, Italy. Interestingly, a note discovered by Fr Martin Borg indicates that it made its first appearance in 1907.

Locality of Fleur-de-Lys - Statue of Our Lady of Mount Carmel

The statue of Our Lady of Mount Carmel was cast in plaster and brought to Malta from Rome shortly after the church was opened in 1947.

Gozo - Statue of Christ the Eucharistic Saviour

This is the most recent titular statue created in Gozo. It was commissioned from artist Michael Camilleri Cauchi in 1980 and was blessed by bishop Nikol Cauchi on 19 September 1982. On that same day, the statue was brought over from the Basilica of Nadur. It was gilded by Horace Farrugia of Mdina.

Victoria, Gozo - Statue of the Immaculate Conception

The statue of the Immaculate Conception is an outstanding wooden masterpiece by the sculptor Salvu Psaila. Created in 1848, it is a truly artistic work, as the artist succeeded in expressing the Baroque style in its full splendour.

St Paul's Bay - Statue of St Paul

The titular statue of St Paul was sculpted in 1919 by the Qormi-born artist Karmnu Mallia, known as Il-Lhudi. It was commissioned and paid for by benefactors Tere'a and Marjanna Pace. On 9 July 1919, the statue was blessed by the bishop of Malta, Maurus Caruana, in the oratory of Our Lady of Charity at the parish church of St Paul's Shipwreck in Valletta. The following day, it was solemnly transferred to the parish church of St Paul's Bay.

Sliema - Statue of St Dominic

The statue of St Dominic is a papier-mâché work by the renowned Gozitan statuary artist Michael Camilleri Cauchi. It was brought to the parish church on 10 July 1976.

Sliema - Statue of St Gregory

This statue was carved in wood in Brescia, Italy by the Italian sculptor Angelo Righetti and was gilded and was inaugurated on 19 May 1952, and carried in procession on the feast day, 25 May. An inscription in Greek on the back of the statue commemorates the name of its benefactor, Mr Alfred Vella. The statue depicts St Gregory as Pope.

KerGozo - Statue of St Gregory

In 1904, commemorative celebrations were held in Kerto mark the 13th centenary of the death of Pope St Gregory the Great. As a lasting memorial to the occasion, a devotional statue of St Gregory was commissioned. It was made in papier-mâché by Gallard et Fils of Marseille .

Ta' Xbiex - Statue of St John of the Cross

This statue is a papier-mâché work by the Gozitan statuary artist Alfred Camilleri Cauchi and completed in 1981. The Saint is depicted embracing a large cross, wearing a beret and holding an open book, symbolising his role as a Christian theologian and doctor.

Marsascala - Statue of St Anne

The statue is a wooden sculpture made in Bolzano Italy, by the firm of Ferdinando Stuflesser in 1946. It arrived in Malta in August 1946 and was transported to Marsaskala by barge. In 1948, the pedestal was made by the same firm, Ferdinando Stuflesser.

What do I think of these stamps? Well, they definitely feel like they're from Malta and I remember seeing a lot of statues like these. They're nice pictures of religious statues and of course I expected St Paul to be in there. I like them in the minisheet because this shows that they're not just individual statues but part of a wider tradition.

Design Quality: This is quite a strong design, showing each of the statues against a blue sky. It reminds me of a summer in Malta. The colours are really vibrant and while this is obviously a religious theme you get a sense of this celebrating Malta's identity. While I often don't like issues with too many stamps, using ten statues from different parts of Malta and Gozo is a good idea because it shows this is a tradition that is popular across the country. The border of the minisheet, with details of religious statues and the Maltese crosses adds to this sense of local identity. 8/10 Theme and Subject Choice: This is actually the tenth issue celebrating the festa. So it's is a very good subject choice that celebrates a historical tradition, while also following the more recent tradition of celebrating it in stamps. 8/10 Historical and Cultural Relevance: Festa is a massive cultural event in Malta. Yes, it is religious but it is also a historical tradition that brings communities together. 9/10 Innovation and Creativity: The artwork is good and I think the minisheet design is reasonably creative, but there is not a lot I an say about innovation. They're quite traditional stamps, as you would expect. 6/10 Collectability: Are religious stamps collectable? I image some collectors are into them, although I think these will also be of interest to people into history and local traditions. 7/10 Personal Appeal: I liked Malta and I remember the religious statues and the St Paul connection. I didn't see a festa but I got the sense that Malta was a place where religious customs and traditions were important. So I feel that these stamps capture part of Maltese identity rather than being just nicely designed religious themed stamps. 7/10

Overall Score: 45/60

ARMENIA / VATICAN CITY - 350th Anniversary of Mekhitar of Sebaste

This is a joint issue between Armenia and the Vatican City, which is historic because it is the first ever joint issue between these two countries.

The stamps celebrate the 350th anniversary of the birth of Mekhitar of Sebaste. Mekhitar became a priest and later founded a religious order as well as a monastery on the abandoned island of San Lazzaro to serve Armenian communities. San Lazzaro had previously been a leper colony. Mekhiatar and his followers, fleeing Ottoman persecution, built up the monastery and other buildings on the island. In 1914 he was declared a saint.

The stamps are of very similar design although the text has been placed very differently on each. On both stamps we see an image of Mekhitar with the Island of San Lazzaro in the background.

Design Quality: Is it an exciting design? No, it is not. But it it respectful and pay tribute to Mekhitar's life and his legacy? Absolutely. I think the position of the text on the Armenian stamp works better than the text on the Vatican's and doesn't block our view of the tower. 6/10

Theme and Subject Choice: I don't think there has ever been another stamp made about Mekhitar, and has someone who was important to Armenia and the Catholic Church, I would say this is a very good choice for both countries. 7/10

Historical and Cultural Relevance: Mekhitar was an important historical figure and this year is the 350th anniversary of his birth. This stamp is itself historically important as it is the first ever joint issue between Armenia and the Vatican City. 9/10

Innovation and Creativity: This is another traditional style of stamp, but I like how it has shown Mekhitar with the San Lazzaro monastery in the background. It's been creative in quite a serious way and shown the seriousness of a man with a mission. 7/10

Collectability: I don't think religious stamps in themselves are particularly collectable. We get a lot of them, especially at Christmas time and sometimes Easter. This one is a bit different because it celebrates someone who probably isn't that well known to most of us, and being the first joint issue between these two countries definitely adds interest. 8/10

Personal Appeal: I recognise this is a very fitting tribute to Mekhitar of Sebaste. I can only imagine how challenging it must have been to flee the Ottoman Empire and come to Venice over 300 years ago. His monastery and the order he founded still exist all these years later, which show how lasting his legacy has been. I also think this is a very important stamp because it is the first joint issue between Armenia (the world's oldest Christian nation) and the Vatican. However, on a personal level this is a stamp that I respect rather than love. 5/10

Overall Score: 42/60

SAN MARINO / VATICAN CITY / ITALY - 800th anniversary of the death of St Francis of Assisi

This is another joint issue but I have only included the San Marino minisheet as the design is exactly the same for all of them apart from the name of the country. Most of us have heard of St Francis of Assisi. He was famous for renoucing wealth, his love for animals and for founding the Fanciscan religious order. The artwork used for the minisheet isn't just another piece of religious art. it is part of the painting “The Farewell of Saint Clare to the Remains of Saint Francis,” taken from Giotto’s “Stories of Saint Francis”. This artwork is today at the Upper Basilica of Saint Francis in Assisi, which is where the celebrations around this important anniversary are taking place. Design Quality: This is a tremendous design. The stamp itself is just a small part of a miniature sheet, which itself shows a small part of a famous painting from the Upper Basilica of Assisi, home to St Francis. This really works because it doesn't reinvent or interpret anything and gives us a sense of the importance of St Francis. The Italian text at the top of the minisheet reads: “Praised be You, my Lord, for our sister Mother Earth,

who sustains and governs us, and produces various fruits with colourful flowers and grass.

Praised be You, my Lord, for those who forgive for love of You and endure sickness and tribulation. Blessed are those who endure these things in peace, for by You, Most High, they shall be crowned.” This is a quite from Laudes Creaturarum (Canticle of the Creatures), a song composed by St Francis. So we not only see Francis in the picture, we also hear his words. 8/10

Theme and Subject Choice: Assisi is just over 100 miles away from San Marino, but that's not really the point. St Francis is a very important person in the history of the Catholic Church and in this area. Even 800 years after his death he's still very influential. It makes perfect sense to mark the anniversary, and this is a great choice for a joint issue between San Marino, Italy and the Vatican City. 9/10

Historical and Cultural Relevance: This has enormous historical relevance in an area where St Francis was very influential. It's also a very important anniversary and celebrates the life of a saint who is world famous. 9/10

Innovation and Creativity: I think this does stick to the traditional formula of using religious art to remember important saints, but it manages to be a bit more creative. The stamp itself is just a small part of a much bigger picture. Making the miniature sheet just large enough to include more of that famous painting as well as the text from one of Francis's most famous songs is also quite creative. 7/10

Collectability: Another religious set, but one that celebrates the life of Italy's most famous saint, who is also the patron saint of the environment and animals. The fact that this is also a joint issue will make it more collectable. 9/10

Personal Appeal: I am not a huge fan or religious art, but this stamp has everything. It is a tribute to a famous saint, it celebrates history and connection to the local area, it marks an important anniversary and it allows Francis to speak to us through his own words. 10/10

Overall Score: 52/60 BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA - 800th anniversary of the death of St Francis of Assisi

This is another stamp celebrating St Francis of Assisi.

St Francis never visited Bosnia, although he does have a stronger connection with Croatia. However, Franciscans arrived in Bosnia in the late 13th century and founded the Franciscan Province of Bosnia. Franciscans founded several monasteries there, but more importantly they have in more recent years been involved in interreligious dialogue in the area aimed at reconciliation. So through them St Francis's influence is still felt today.

Design Quality: The designer ahs tried to be creative with a modern take and it works to a point. The dove symbolises Francis's commitment to peace, and perhaps also the work that modern followers of Francis are doing to promote peace. But perhaps it also shows us something of Francis's love for animals. I like all that but I don't feel the artistic style gives us the same sense of history that the San Marino - Italy - Vatican issue does. 6/10

Theme and Subject Choice: The anniversary is a good subject choice, although not an obvious one in a predominantly Muslim country and there is no real historical connection between Bosnia and St Francis. 6/10

Historical and Cultural Relevance: There is some historical relevance with world-famous saint, but there isn't the same cultural connection with Bosnia as there is for Italy, San Marino or the Vatican. 5/10

Innovation and Creativity: The designer has been quite innovative. I said that I don't think the style really works but I can't argue that this is a real attempt at a creative tribute to St Francis. I would imagine some people will prefer the more modern artistic expression to traditional religious artwork. 7/10

Collectability: This will have an appeal to people who respect St Francis or who like religious art, but I'm not sure too many other people will take much notice. 6/10

Personal Appeal: A lot of work has gone into this and I really appreciate the effort and the way the designer has tried to create a tribute to mark an important anniversary. Personally, it doesn't really speak to me but I am sure it will speak to others. 3/10

Overall Score: 33/60