Chapel of the Resurrection, Brussels
Encyclopedia
The Chapel of the Resurrection (in Dutch Verrijzeniskapel, in French Chapelle de la Résurrection) is a Roman Catholic church with an ecumenical
vocation located in the heart of the Brussels' European Quarter
of Brussels
(district City of Brussels
), next to the former Convent Van Maerlant
. A precursor of this church, which dated back to the 15th Century, was situated in the city center, but demolished in the course of urban development in 1907. Instead, a replica, externally true to the original, was built at its present location. In 2001, after substantial renovation, the church received its present name and took on its present ecumenical character. The pastoral
responsibility for the chapel is has been entrusted to the Jesuit Order.
was scheduled for demolition and a duplicate was built on Vanmaerlantstraat by the expropriated Order (Dames de l'adoration perpetuelle). This new chapel was inaugurated on 14 October 1908. In 1974 the sisters decided to sell the convent - which comprised what is now the entire block: while the main building today accommodates a library and a visitors' centre of the European Commission
, the chapel was sold to an international association (ivzw/aisbl) constituted under Belgian law, which had been founded by members of the European institutions
in order to maintain the chapel as a space for prayer and liturgy. By donations and contributions of the Catholic Episcopal Conferences of Europe
(COMECE), the Conference of European Churches
(CEC), the Society of Jesus
, the King Baudouin Foundation
and numerous other institutions, the chapel was completely renovated and restructured in 1999-2000. On 25 September 2001, Archbishop Godfried Cardinal Daneels officially inaugurated the new church.
, reserved for silent prayer and worship. The gold-plated cross
is a work of the Belgian sculptor Philippe Denis. The liturgical
main room is now located on the first floor and is accessible by an interior staircase and a lift. Since the church has lost its full original height, new windows by the Viennese artist Thomas Reinhold were inserted. The side windows show the themes of Creation, Incarnation
, the Burning Bush
and Pentecost
, whereas the window of the main façade represents the Resurrection
. They windows produced by the factory of the Schlierbach convent in Upper Austria
and financed by nine Austrian regions. On a side gallery, the chapel has an organ from the workshop Etienne Debaisieux, the instrument being a gift by the Evangelical Church in Germany
(EKD). In the floor above, the building accommodates a meeting hall and office rooms (not visible from outside).
. Due to its particular location in a business district and in close proximity to the European institutions (Council of the European Union
, European Parliament
, European Commission
, etc.), it serves as a place of discussion, meeting and prayer linked to these work-places. Therefore, the chapel is opened mostly on weekdays. It offers a wide range of liturgical events, taking in consideration the diversity of confessions, languages and nationalities of this mainly within a mostly "European" public. On the first and third Sundays of each month a Finnish Lutheran communion service is held in the morning. A Catholic
multilingual youth mass takes place every first and third Sunday of each month in the evening. Because of its proximity to the European Union
's offices, the Chapel is well used by EU civil servants and is used for weddings, baptisms, and memorial services. The Chapel is conducted by a pastoral team of religious and lay
volunteers. In addition to regular morning prayers (on weekdays), Catholic
, Lutheran
and Orthodox services are offered, usually at lunch time, in several languages, but mainly in English and French.
Ecumenism
Ecumenism or oecumenism mainly refers to initiatives aimed at greater Christian unity or cooperation. It is used predominantly by and with reference to Christian denominations and Christian Churches separated by doctrine, history, and practice...
vocation located in the heart of the Brussels' European Quarter
European Quarter
A European Quarter usually refers to an area of a city containing a concentration of pan-European institutions...
of Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
(district City of Brussels
City of Brussels
The City of Brussels is the largest municipality of the Brussels-Capital Region, and the official capital of Belgium by law....
), next to the former Convent Van Maerlant
Convent Van Maerlant
The Convent Van Maerlant is a former convent which consists of a church and a chapel on Rue Van Maerlantstraat in Brussels .In 1905, a compulsory purchase order for land for the Central railway station was made on the Rue des Sols, and this included the Brussels convent of the Sisters of Perpetual...
. A precursor of this church, which dated back to the 15th Century, was situated in the city center, but demolished in the course of urban development in 1907. Instead, a replica, externally true to the original, was built at its present location. In 2001, after substantial renovation, the church received its present name and took on its present ecumenical character. The pastoral
Pastoral care
Pastoral care is the ministry of care and counseling provided by pastors, chaplains and other religious leaders to members of their church or congregation, or to persons of all faiths and none within institutional settings. This can range anywhere from home visitation to formal counseling provided...
responsibility for the chapel is has been entrusted to the Jesuit Order.
History
The history of the building goes back to the Chapelle du Saint-Sacrement de Miracle (Chapel of the Miraculous Sacrament), which was built in the Rue des Sols/Stuiversstraat in the city centre in 1455. In the course of urban development measures in, the chapel had to give way for the construction of the Central Station. The original chapel and adjoining conventConvent
A convent is either a community of priests, religious brothers, religious sisters, or nuns, or the building used by the community, particularly in the Roman Catholic Church and in the Anglican Communion...
was scheduled for demolition and a duplicate was built on Vanmaerlantstraat by the expropriated Order (Dames de l'adoration perpetuelle). This new chapel was inaugurated on 14 October 1908. In 1974 the sisters decided to sell the convent - which comprised what is now the entire block: while the main building today accommodates a library and a visitors' centre of the European Commission
European Commission
The European Commission is the executive body of the European Union. The body is responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the Union's treaties and the general day-to-day running of the Union....
, the chapel was sold to an international association (ivzw/aisbl) constituted under Belgian law, which had been founded by members of the European institutions
Institutions of the European Union
The European Union is governed by seven institutions. Article 13 of Treaty on European Union lists them in the following order: the European Parliament, the European Council, the Council of the European Union, the European Commission, the Court of Justice of the European Union, the European...
in order to maintain the chapel as a space for prayer and liturgy. By donations and contributions of the Catholic Episcopal Conferences of Europe
Commission of the Bishops' Conferences of the European Community
The Commissio Episcopatuum Communitatis Europaeae or Commission of the Bishops' Conferences of the European Community is an organisation of Roman Catholic bishops in Europe to examine European Union policy and legislation from a Catholic perspective...
(COMECE), the Conference of European Churches
Conference of European Churches
The Conference of European Churches was founded in 1959 to promote reconciliation, dialogue and friendship between the churches of Europe at a time of growing Cold War political tensions and divisions. It is an ecumenical fellowship of Christian churches in Europe; its membership consists of most...
(CEC), the Society of Jesus
Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
, the King Baudouin Foundation
King Baudouin Foundation
The King Baudouin Foundation is a public benefit foundation in Brussels, Belgium, established in 1976.Named after Baudouin of Belgium, Belgium's late head of state, its mission is to contribute to improving the living conditions of the population. KBF, both a grantmaking and an operating...
and numerous other institutions, the chapel was completely renovated and restructured in 1999-2000. On 25 September 2001, Archbishop Godfried Cardinal Daneels officially inaugurated the new church.
Architecture
While the chapel's Neo-Renaissance façade and its exterior remained unchanged, the interior was completely restructured and designed by Marionex Architects, Brussels. Today's building has four storeys: The visitor enters the chapel through a foyer (ground floor), which is used as a meeting and exhibition space. The basement contains a cryptCrypt
In architecture, a crypt is a stone chamber or vault beneath the floor of a burial vault possibly containing sarcophagi, coffins or relics....
, reserved for silent prayer and worship. The gold-plated cross
Christian cross
The Christian cross, seen as a representation of the instrument of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, is the best-known religious symbol of Christianity...
is a work of the Belgian sculptor Philippe Denis. The liturgical
Christian liturgy
A liturgy is a set form of ceremony or pattern of worship. Christian liturgy is a pattern for worship used by a Christian congregation or denomination on a regular basis....
main room is now located on the first floor and is accessible by an interior staircase and a lift. Since the church has lost its full original height, new windows by the Viennese artist Thomas Reinhold were inserted. The side windows show the themes of Creation, Incarnation
Incarnation (Christianity)
The Incarnation in traditional Christianity is the belief that Jesus Christ the second person of the Trinity, also known as God the Son or the Logos , "became flesh" by being conceived in the womb of a woman, the Virgin Mary, also known as the Theotokos .The Incarnation is a fundamental theological...
, the Burning Bush
Burning bush
The burning bush is an object described by the Book of Exodus as being located on Mount Sinai; according to the narrative, the bush was on fire, but was not consumed by the flames, hence the name...
and Pentecost
Pentecost
Pentecost is a prominent feast in the calendar of Ancient Israel celebrating the giving of the Law on Sinai, and also later in the Christian liturgical year commemorating the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples of Christ after the Resurrection of Jesus...
, whereas the window of the main façade represents the Resurrection
Resurrection
Resurrection refers to the literal coming back to life of the biologically dead. It is used both with respect to particular individuals or the belief in a General Resurrection of the dead at the end of the world. The General Resurrection is featured prominently in Jewish, Christian, and Muslim...
. They windows produced by the factory of the Schlierbach convent in Upper Austria
Upper Austria
Upper Austria is one of the nine states or Bundesländer of Austria. Its capital is Linz. Upper Austria borders on Germany and the Czech Republic, as well as on the other Austrian states of Lower Austria, Styria, and Salzburg...
and financed by nine Austrian regions. On a side gallery, the chapel has an organ from the workshop Etienne Debaisieux, the instrument being a gift by the Evangelical Church in Germany
Evangelical Church in Germany
The Evangelical Church in Germany is a federation of 22 Lutheran, Unified and Reformed Protestant regional church bodies in Germany. The EKD is not a church in a theological understanding because of the denominational differences. However, the member churches share full pulpit and altar...
(EKD). In the floor above, the building accommodates a meeting hall and office rooms (not visible from outside).
Pastoral approach and current functions
The Chapel of the Resurrection is not a parish churchParish church
A parish church , in Christianity, is the church which acts as the religious centre of a parish, the basic administrative unit of episcopal churches....
. Due to its particular location in a business district and in close proximity to the European institutions (Council of the European Union
Council of the European Union
The Council of the European Union is the institution in the legislature of the European Union representing the executives of member states, the other legislative body being the European Parliament. The Council is composed of twenty-seven national ministers...
, European Parliament
European Parliament
The European Parliament is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union . Together with the Council of the European Union and the Commission, it exercises the legislative function of the EU and it has been described as one of the most powerful legislatures in the world...
, European Commission
European Commission
The European Commission is the executive body of the European Union. The body is responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the Union's treaties and the general day-to-day running of the Union....
, etc.), it serves as a place of discussion, meeting and prayer linked to these work-places. Therefore, the chapel is opened mostly on weekdays. It offers a wide range of liturgical events, taking in consideration the diversity of confessions, languages and nationalities of this mainly within a mostly "European" public. On the first and third Sundays of each month a Finnish Lutheran communion service is held in the morning. A Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
multilingual youth mass takes place every first and third Sunday of each month in the evening. Because of its proximity to the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
's offices, the Chapel is well used by EU civil servants and is used for weddings, baptisms, and memorial services. The Chapel is conducted by a pastoral team of religious and lay
Laity
In religious organizations, the laity comprises all people who are not in the clergy. A person who is a member of a religious order who is not ordained legitimate clergy is considered as a member of the laity, even though they are members of a religious order .In the past in Christian cultures, the...
volunteers. In addition to regular morning prayers (on weekdays), Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
, Lutheran
Lutheranism
Lutheranism is a major branch of Western Christianity that identifies with the theology of Martin Luther, a German reformer. Luther's efforts to reform the theology and practice of the church launched the Protestant Reformation...
and Orthodox services are offered, usually at lunch time, in several languages, but mainly in English and French.