Chapelle de la Résurrection
Coordinates: 50 ° 50 ′ 28.6 " N , 4 ° 22 ′ 43.6" E
The Chapelle de la Résurrection (Dutch Verrijzeniskapel , German Resurrection Chapel ) is a Catholic church with an ecumenical orientation in the European quarter of Brussels (municipality of the city of Brussels ). A forerunner of this church, whose origins date back to the 15th century, was originally located in the city center, but was demolished in the course of urban restructuring in Brussels in 1907. Instead, a replica that is true to the original was built at the current location. In autumn 2001 - after structural changes and pastoral realignment - the chapel received its current name; Since then, their program has had strong ecumenical traits. Pastoral responsibility for the chapel lies with the Jesuit order .
history
The church building, which goes back to older buildings and was fundamentally renewed in the 18th century, originally stood on the site of today's central station and was demolished as part of the urban and traffic planning redevelopment of downtown Brussels and rebuilt in the Vanmaerlantstraat. The building was affiliated to a convent of the Sisters of Perpetual Adoration (Dames de l'Adoration perpétuelle) ; the building ensemble has largely been preserved in this form to this day, albeit with a different function. In 1999 the sisters sold the facility: while the main building now houses a visitor center and a library of the European Commission , the chapel was sold to an international association under Belgian law that had been founded by employees of the European institutions in order to keep the chapel as a prayer room. Thanks to donations and contributions from the Catholic Bishops' Conferences of Europe , the Conference of European Churches , the Jesuit Order and numerous foundations, the chapel was completely renovated and restructured in 1999 and 2000. On September 25, 2001, the new church interior was officially inaugurated by the then Brussels Archbishop Godfried Cardinal Danneels .
architecture
While the neo-renaissance facade and the exterior of the chapel remained largely unchanged during the renovation work, the interior of the church was completely gutted during the renovation work in 2001 and restructured according to plans by the Brussels architects Marionex. Today, contrary to what the exterior suggests, the building consists of four floors. You enter the chapel through an entrance foyer (ground floor), which is used as a reception, event and exhibition room. In the basement there is a crypt that is used for silent prayer and worship. The gilded cross is the work of the sculptor Philippe Denis. The liturgical, single-nave main room is now on the first floor and can be reached via an internal staircase and an elevator. Since the church has lost its original height, new windows by the Viennese artist Thomas Reinhold have been added. The side windows deal with the themes of Creation, Incarnation, Burning Bush and Spiritual Mission ( Pentecost ), while the window on the main facade (street side) deals with the Resurrection . The chapel has an organ made by Etienne Debaisieux on a side gallery; the instrument is a gift from the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD). On the upper floor (not visible from the outside) there is a community and assembly hall as well as offices.
Pastoral concept
The Chapelle de la Résurrection is not a parish church . In view of its special location in the middle of a pure office and business district and in close proximity to the European institutions ( Council of the European Union , European Parliament , European Commission, etc.), it serves as a place of discussion, meeting and prayer at the place of work. The chapel is therefore mainly open on working days and offers alternative liturgical offers that are tailored to the working rhythm and the variety of denominations . The chapel is led by a pastoral team made up of religious and lay volunteers . Catholic , Evangelical Lutheran and Orthodox services are offered in numerous languages, mostly at lunchtime, but mainly in English and French.
