The magnificent twentieth-century paintings and golden stucco that decorate the ceiling of this basilica trail its building by almost three hundred years. The painter was Gian Battista Conti of Rome, while the stucco decorator was Ġużeppi Galea of Rabat, Malta. The lower vault that runs along the main aisle and branches into the transepts to join once again into the Latin cross above the choir (behind the main altar) bears the legendary exploits of St George as they are documented in the early sixth-century panegyric of St Andrew of Greece.

George, dressed as a Roman tribune, is first seen tearing the edict issued by Emperor Diocletian in February 303 which indicted Christians with treachery against the gods of Rome and launched the Great Persecution.

The next picture is that of George, returning to his home town of Lydda, distributing his property to the poor, giving freedom to his household slaves and divesting himself of any attachment to the world.

The third depiction is that of George in the dungeon, stripped of his clothes, tied up and scourged. According to the “legend” of his martyrdom this was the first trial that he was subjected to. Many other trials awaited him and these are represented in the side transepts.

The vault of St George’s Basilica displays not only the life of its patron saint, the ministry of praise performed by the angels and the witness of saints (those flanking the windows) and the figures of the Apostles and Evangelists (above the windows), but also two events in the history of these islands when the people prayed for deliverance through the intercession of St George. These are seen in the aisles of the side transepts.