In 1569, Rhodians who came to Malta with the Order of the Hospitaller Knights of Saint John of Jerusalem founded the church of Saint Nicholas. However, in 1639, after its priest Giovanni Metaxi joined the Uniates, the church passed to the Greek Catholic Church. In 1652, the building was renovated in accordance with plans by the architect Francesco Buonamici, exponent of the Baroque style. Because of severe damage caused by bombing during the Second World War, radical repairs were carried out in 1951. In 2021, the church of Saint Nicholas was ceded to the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the newly-instituted Patriarchal Exarchate of Melite. On 6 January 2021, after almost four centuries had elapsed, the Divine Liturgy of the Theophany was celebrated in the holy church.
