Open Churches days 2026
6th-7th June 2026
Thursday 29 January 2026
HUMOUR HIDDEN IN HERITAGE
Joy is the most beautiful side of Faith
Our religious heritage is a profoundly human one, infused with joy and humor. Let us explore the cheerful, human, and sometimes humorous side of religion through art and architecture.
Countless churches, especially the medieval ones, have playful and satirical elements (corbels and gargoyles, sculpted columns, and mercy seats) as humour used to be a method in medieval times to touch the illiterate churchgoer.
Joy can be a driving force in architecture and religion. Let’s highlight the positive, festive, and lighter dimensions of a church: the light (the stained glass windows), the music (the organ and hymns), the colors (medieval and contemporary polychrome), and the liturgical services (liturgical heydays, festive moments in which we feel as one).
Humor can convey a moral message : during certain productions comedic elements were used to spark reflection, to combat evil, and to impart christians morals.
Latest news
Open Churches Days are this weekend!
Saturday 31 May and Sunday 1 June - 18th edition: ‘Hidden treasures from cellar to attic'
[Europe] New videos from the Open Churches network!
Videos to present the Open Churches network and its actions.
The new 2022-2023 brochure has arrived! [Belgium]
Lighter, easier to carry, it lists all the members of the network in Belgium!
