Our apartment in Brussels was in the neighborhood of a former
Beguinage (a community of women who, after becoming widows, led a life of charity but did not take religious vows). The main church for that community was
St. John the Baptist. A large Gothic church had been built on the site but the Calvinists plundered the church twice in the late 1500s, leaving it virtually destroyed. A new stone church was completed in 1676. The church is another example of fine Baroque architecture.
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| Door detail |
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| Come on in! |
The nave is full of light, partly an effect achieved by the extra-wide aisle on the sides.
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| Nave |
Like many churches in Belgium, the pulpit is rather ornate. This pulpit features St. Dominic correcting a heretic!
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| Pulpit |
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| St. Dominic admonishes a heretic under his feet! |
Other wood carvings are quite nice, including this confessional.
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| Confessionals with penitential offerings |
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| The organ with a grand setting |
The high altar still has a beauty in its simplicity. The original Baroque altar was destroyed by French revolutionaries and this less ornate altar was installed later.
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| High altar |
Off to one side is an altar to Our Lady; on the other is an altar to the church's patron, John the Baptist.
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| Our Lady altar |
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| Simple side altar with John the Baptist at the top |
Some statues are also less usual, including one of Jesus after being scourged.
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| Jesus after scourging |
Melchizedek (who offered a bread and wine offering in Genesis) and Aaron, brother of Moses and first high priest in the Jewish covenant, flank the main altar.
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| Melchizedek |
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| Aaron, brother of Moses |
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| Unidentified saint! |
The stained glass is good as well, including this window of St. Peter receiving the keys to Heaven.
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| Vivid stained glass |
One last striking work of art is this Pieta, done as a painting rather than the usual sculpture.
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| Pieta |
I bet it's Saint Barbara - I think she's often shown holding a tower. -- Angie
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