Saint John the Baptist and Our Lady of the Assumption
Abdijstraat 1
3271 Averbode (Scherpenheuvel-Zichem)
Abbey church | 1664-1672 | Baroque | Catholic Church
Map
Opening hours
01 January - 31 December
Mon 7.00 - 12.30 • 13.30 - 19.00
Tue 7.00 - 12.30 • 13.30 - 19.00
Wed 7.00 - 12.30 • 13.30 - 19.00
Thu 7.00 - 12.30 • 13.30 - 19.00
Fri 7.00 - 12.30 • 13.30 - 19.00
Sat 7.00 - 12.30 • 13.30 - 19.00
Sun 7.00 - 12.30 • 13.30 - 19.00
Religious offices
Description
The abbey of Averbode was founded in 1134 by the count of Loon.
The baroque church of Our Lady built by Jean van den Eynde (1664-1672) dominates its surroundings. It replaces an old Romanesque- Gothic style church and was consecrated to Saint John the Baptist and to Our Lady of the Assumption. In the gracious lines of the facade are the statues of Saint Norbert (on the right) and the abbey’s patron, Saint John (on the left).
As a reaction against the Reformation and Lutheran Protestantism, this new baroque church had to impress its believers with the profusion and refinement of its decoration and demonstrate where the true faith lay. Witnessing this are the 18th century pulpit, the confessionals (from 1780), the altars at the entrance to the choir (vestiges of a rood screen). But even more impressive is the choir which is longer than the nave with its 72 stalls (from 1672), with many interesting details, where the monks went for prayer and song.
Also noteworthy is the main altar decorated with an Assumption. The painting by Gaspar de Crayer, "foundation of the Prèmontré order", was moved from the altar to the chapter house. In 2001 a new altar of 10 tons of marble from Verona was set up in the centre of the church.
Take time to visit the cemetery where the writer Ernest Claes is buried (died in 1968), to wander in the park where the abbey is restoring the calvary and to walk in the neighbouring woods and hills .It is a moment of calm and peace.
Photos
Media
Remarkable elements
High altar
Right at the back of the choir is the high altar, constructed with multicoloured marble (1753). Between the columns, we see the Assumption of Mary. At the bottom, three apostles are standing at her empty grave. Mary is rising up to heaven on a cloud surrounded by little angels. The Holy Trinity is waiting for her at the top: God the Father (with globe and sceptre), Christ (with the cross) and the Holy Spirit (in the form of a pigeon). All of this is beheld by King Solomon and John the Baptist from the sides. Hanging next to the main altar are two paintings by P.J. Verhaghen. On the left, the Last Supper is depicted, a tableau from the New Testament. On the right, we see a scene from the Old Testament: Melchisedek's offer and his encounter with Abraham. Under the high altar, two gilded doors lead to the crypt where the deceased abbots are interred.
Saint Norbert's altar
In the left transept is the altar of the Holy Norbert, founder of the Premonstratensian Order (also called the Norbertines). It is topped off with a statue of Norbert under a canopy with two angels. Below this we see how Norbert receives the white habit from the hands of Mary. The sculpture group is flanked by two martyrs from the abbey of Middelburg (NL): Adrian Jansen and James Lacops were killed along with other priests and religious during the religious quarrels in 1572. The rope around their neck and the martyr's palm refer to their martyrdom. The papal tiara and the chalice refer to their loyalty to the catholic faith.
John the Baptist's altar
In the right transept is the altar of the patron saint of the church: John the Baptist. John himself is displayed right at the top under a palm tree. The angels with sword and golden dish of course refer to his decapitation. Beneath this, we see how Elisabeth (his mother) meets Mary. At their side are Joseph and Zacharias, John's father. The frontal depicts John's birth.
Choir stalls
At either side of the choir there are impressive baroque choir stalls. They were delivered in 1673 by Octaaf Herry's workshop in Antwerp. In the niches there are saints and blesseds of the Norbertine Order. The angels carry objects which refer to Christ's suffering and death. The arms of the 72 seats are each adorned with unique angel's heads. We also see many animals, plants and mythological figures that are not only figurative but also symbolic.
Confessionals
In the transepts there are two classicistic confessionals which were made in 1779 by Cornelis De Smedt from Antwerp. The sides are adorned with instruments of the Passion and penance. On top of the confessionals are Mary Magdalene (left) and the Holy Mary of Egypt (right).
Organ
The monumental organ above the portal dates from the 19th century. The organ-case is richly decorated with statues of the apostle Peter and king David, angels making music, angel's heads and musical instruments. On top of the organ-case there is a painted depiction of Saint Cecilia of Rome, patron of (church)music. The organ has 64 registers, four keyboards and more than 3500 organ pipes. It is a splendid example of romantic organ construction. Pending a restoration, it cannot be played at the moment. The organ in the right transept was put in place in 2001.
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