Notre-Dame de toute Protection

Church service times

On September 30, 2012, Archbishop Gabriel of the Russian parishes in Western Europe inaugurated an Orthodox chapel dedicated to the Mother of God of All Protection in Banneux, Belgium, on the site of the Catholic shrine. The opening is seen as a historic and ecumenical event, marking a change in attitude between the Catholic and Orthodox Churches.

The chapel came into being thanks to the initiative of priest Guy, who had the idea in 2007 during a visit to Banneux, and was supported by the Archbishop and Bishop of Liège. The project took shape with the support of the shrine, although the process was long and complex.

Work on the chapel was carried out by volunteers, and icons were created to adorn the space. The inauguration of the chapel took place after several years of preparation, symbolizing a meeting between the Orthodox and Catholic Christian communities.

The chapel is dedicated to the feast of the Protection of the Mother of God, which recalls a spiritual vision of the Virgin Mary covering her faithful with her protective veil. This feast, though specific to Orthodoxy, embodies a universal maternal love. The chapel project aims to strengthen ties between the two churches and provide a place of prayer for pilgrims, with the hope of fostering exchanges and better mutual understanding between believers.