Doesn’t the Sint-Amanduskerk seem peaceful? It stands as a testament to faith and history. It is a church in Sint-Amands Belgium. The Sint-Amanduskerk has stood here since 1866. Building work finished in 1868.
The Sint-Amanduskerk isn’t just a building. It is a landmark. Its story is intertwined with the town’s.
Imagine the sounds within the Sint-Amanduskerk. Think of the organ music. The Grenzing organ hangs in a “bird’s nest” position. This meets the acoustic needs of the church. This position links to a tradition among organ builders. Organs in Chartres Cologne and Strasbourg share this.
The instrument is impressive. It has 4300 pipes and 63 stops. There are four keyboards and a pedal-board. The organist’s console can accommodate soloists. The organ can play compositions from different eras. Gothic elements integrate it with the building. German organ builder Gerhard Grenzing created this instrument. He collaborated with English architect Simon Platt.
Step inside the Sint-Amanduskerk. Notice the new high altar. Michel Smolders sculpted it. Cardinal Danneels consecrated it in 2000. The altar represents Christ’s mystery. It is both the Last Supper and the cross. It is the table of the Lord’s Eucharistic banquet. The altar is made of light granite. Its wrought sides have variations. The polished surface is black. Crosses mark its center and corners. The altar’s design symbolizes a tree. Heaven and Earth unite in this symbol.
Consider some historical events. Many national religious celebrations took place in the Sint-Amanduskerk.
Though not directly part of the Sint-Amanduskerk itself its story echoes the broader religious history of Brussels.
Remember the Miracle of the Holy Sacrament. In 1370 Jews were accused of profaning the Holy Sacrament. They were punished. People claimed Jews stabbed communion wafers. Blood flowed from the wafers.
In 1968 the archdiocese addressed the accusations. They noted the accusations were biased. The miracle was likely a legend.
The plaque in the cathedral treasury addresses this miracle. The legend says communion wafers bled. This happened after Jews stabbed them. Six Jews were burned at the stake. Their property was taken. People believed the hosts bled. It was never proven.
Belief in the miracle justified executing the Jews. It was a way to dispose of them. The miracle showed Christ’s presence in the Eucharist. Similar miracles occurred elsewhere. Red mildew on wafers was mistaken for blood. The cathedral has art depicting the legend.
Charles V and the Habsburg family gave stained-glass windows. Albert and Isabella enriched the chapel. The first Belgian kings offered stained glass windows.
After 1870 the relic lost national significance. The local devotion continued. Stained glass windows kept the story alive. After the Holocaust attitudes changed. People viewed the legend critically.
As we conclude our visit to the Sint-Amanduskerk consider its layers of history. It is a place of faith art and reflection. Its story continues.