Saint Bavo's Cathedral, also known as Sint-Baafs Cathedral ( nl, Sint Baafskathedraal), is a

cathedral A cathedral is a church that contains the ''cathedra'' () of a bishop, thus serving as the central church of a diocese, conference, or episcopate. Churches with the function of "cathedral" are usually specific to those Christian denominations ...

of the

Catholic Church The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the List of Christian denominations by number of members, largest Christian church, with 1.3 billion baptized Catholics Catholic Church by country, worldwide . It is am ...

Ghent Ghent ( nl, Gent ; french: Gand ; traditional English: Gaunt) is a city and a municipality in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It is the capital and largest city of the East Flanders province, and the third largest in the country, exceeded i ...

, Belgium. The 89-meter-tall

Gothic Gothic or Gothics may refer to: People and languages *Goths or Gothic people, the ethnonym of a group of East Germanic tribes **Gothic language, an extinct East Germanic language spoken by the Goths **Crimean Gothic, the Gothic language spoken b ...

building is the seat of the

Diocese of Ghent The Diocese of Ghent ( Latin: ''Dioecesis Gandavensis'') is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Catholic Church in Belgium. It is a suffragan in the ecclesiastical province of the metropolitan Archdiocese of Mechelen-Brusse ...

and is named for Saint Bavo of Ghent. It contains the well-known '' Ghent Altarpiece''.

History

The cathedral stands on the site of the former Chapel of St. John the Baptist, which was primarily of wooden construction and was consecrated in 942 by Transmarus, Bishop of Tournai and Noyon. Traces of a later Romanesque structure can be found in the cathedral's crypt. Construction of the Gothic church began around 1274. In the subsequent period from the 14th through 16th centuries, nearly continuous expansion projects in the

style were executed on the structure. A new

choir A choir ( ; also known as a chorale or chorus) is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform. Choirs may perform music from the classical music repertoire, which sp ...

radiating chapels An apse chapel, apsidal chapel, or chevet is a chapel in traditional Christian church architecture, which radiates tangentially from one of the bays or divisions of the apse. It is reached generally by a semicircular passageway, or ambulatory, ex ...

, expansions of the

transept A transept (with two semitransepts) is a transverse part of any building, which lies across the main body of the building. In cruciform churches, a transept is an area set crosswise to the nave in a cruciform ("cross-shaped") building with ...

s, a

chapter house A chapter house or chapterhouse is a building or room that is part of a cathedral, monastery or collegiate church in which meetings are held. When attached to a cathedral, the cathedral chapter meets there. In monasteries, the whole commun ...

nave The nave () is the central part of a church, stretching from the (normally western) main entrance or rear wall, to the transepts, or in a church without transepts, to the chancel. When a church contains side aisles, as in a basilica-typ ...

aisles and a single-tower western section were all added. In 1539, as a result of the rebellion against

Charles V Charles V may refer to: * Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor (1500–1558) * Charles V of Naples (1661–1700), better known as Charles II of Spain * Charles V of France (1338–1380), called the Wise * Charles V, Duke of Lorraine (1643–1690) * Infa ...

, who was baptized in the church, the old Abbey of St. Bavo was dissolved. Its abbot and monks went on to become canons in a Chapter that was attached to what then became the Church of Saint Bavo. When the

was founded in 1559, the church became its

. Construction was considered complete on June 7, 1569. In the summer of 1566, bands of Calvinist iconoclasts visited Catholic churches in the Netherlands, shattering stained-glass windows, smashing statues, and destroying paintings and other artworks they perceived as idolatrous. However, the altarpiece by the Van Eycks was saved.

Interior

''Ghent Altarpiece''

The cathedral is noted for the '' Ghent Altarpiece'', originally in the Joost Vijd Chapel. It is formally known as the '' Adoration of the Mystic Lamb'' after its lower centre panel by

Hubert Hubert is a Germanic masculine given name, from ''hug'' "mind" and '' beraht'' "bright". It also occurs as a surname. Saint Hubertus or Hubert (c. 656 – 30 May 727) is the patron saint of hunters, mathematicians, opticians, and metalworkers ...

and Jan

van Eyck Van Eyck or Van Eijk () is a Dutch toponymic surname. ''Eijck'', ''Eyck'', ''Eyk'' and ''Eijk'' are all archaic spellings of modern Dutch ("oak") and the surname literally translates as "from/of oak". However, in most cases, the family name refers ...

. This work is considered Van Eyck's masterpiece and one of the most important works of the early Northern Renaissance, as well as one of the greatest artistic masterpieces of

Belgium Belgium, ; french: Belgique ; german: Belgien officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. The country is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeast, France to ...

. Part of the painting, the lowermost left panel known as '' The Just Judges'', was stolen in 1934 and has not been recovered. It has since been replaced with a facsimile by

Jef Van der Veken Josephus Maria Van der Veken (also spelled Vander Veken;Biographical details
at the

Peter Paul Rubens Sir Peter Paul Rubens (; ; 28 June 1577 – 30 May 1640) was a Flemish artist and diplomat from the Duchy of Brabant in the Southern Netherlands (modern-day Belgium). He is considered the most influential artist of the Flemish Baroque tradit ...

. There are also works by or after Lucas de Heere, one of which is a ''View of Gent''. Frans Pourbus the Elder painted 14 panels representing the ''History of Saint Andrew'' (1572) and a ''Triptych of Viglius Aytta'' (1571).

Caspar de Crayer Gaspar de Crayer or Jasper de CrayerName variations: Caspar de Crayer and Gaspard de Crayer (18 November 1584 – 27 January 1669) was a Flemish painter known for his many Counter-Reformation altarpieces and portraits. He was a court painter ...

is represented by paintings of ''St Macarius of Gent'', ''The Beheading of Saint John the Baptist'' and ''The Martyrdom of Saint Barbara''. The church also holds works by

Antoon van den Heuvel Antoon van den Heuvel, Antoine van den Heuvel or Anton van den Heuvel (nickname: 'don Antonio')Antoine van den Heuvel< ...

including the ''Christ and the Adulterous Woman'' and the ''Resurrection of Christ''. There are also works by

Lucas van Uden Lucas van Uden (18 October 1595 – 4 November 1672) was a leading Flemish Landscape art, landscape painter, draughtsman and engraver, who lived and worked in Antwerp. He was a leading landscape painter who collaborated with various local fi ...

and

Jan van Cleef Jan van Cleve (III) or Jan van Cleef (III) (6 January 1646 – 18 December 1716) was a Dutch-born Flemish painter who is known for his altarpieces, allegorical pictures and mythological scenes.Petrus Norbertus van Reysschoot painted a series of 11

grisaille Grisaille ( or ; french: grisaille, lit=greyed , from ''gris'' 'grey') is a painting executed entirely in shades of grey or of another neutral greyish colour. It is particularly used in large decorative schemes in imitation of sculpture. Many g ...

s, which decorate the choir of the cathedral, above the stalls. Five of these panels represent scenes from the Old Testament while the other six episodes from the New Testament. These paintings were placed in the cathedral between 1789 and 1791.Victor van der Haeghen, ''Reysschoot, Pierre-Norbert Van''
in: Biographie nationale de Belgique, Volume 19, p. 235-238 File:St. Bavos Cathedral Ghent.jpg, Interior of the Romanesque Crypt, with

fresco Fresco (plural ''frescos'' or ''frescoes'') is a technique of mural painting executed upon freshly laid ("wet") lime plaster. Water is used as the vehicle for the dry-powder pigment to merge with the plaster, and with the setting of the plast ...

s of religious figures visible. File:Inside St. Bavos Cathedral Ghent.jpg, Elaborate stone and marble

s inside the upper church. File:Sint-Baafskathedraal Gand 304 orgue.jpg, The great organ built in 1935 by Klais is the biggest of the Benelux. File:Rubens kathedraal gent.JPG, Saint Bavo enters the Convent at Ghent. File:Petrus Norbertus van Reysschoot - The washing of the feet.jpg, ''The washing of the feet'' by Petrus Norbertus van Reysschoot.

Organs

The cathedral has four organs for use at liturgical celebrations. Most famous is the main organ in the Upper church, the biggest organ in the Benelux. In 1935 Mgr Coppieters commanded that the Klais organ from the world exhibition would be put inside the cathedral. The organ case dates from the 18th century and the complete organ has more than 6000 pipes inside. It has 5 manuals.

Choir

The most impressive part is the high choir with stalls for the members of the Chapter of Saint-Bavon. The episcopal throne is located on the right side with the episcopal arms visible. Highlights of the interior decoration of the choir include the

Baroque The Baroque (, ; ) is a style of architecture, music, dance, painting, sculpture, poetry, and other arts that flourished in Europe from the early 17th century until the 1750s. In the territories of the Spanish and Portuguese empires including ...

high altar (1702–1782), in white, black, and red flamed marble, and the tomb monuments of Ghent bishops, including that of Antonius Triest, in white and black marble (1652–1654), a major work of

Jerôme Duquesnoy (II) Jerôme Duquesnoy (II) or Hieronymus Duquesnoy (II) or the Younger (baptized 8 May 1602 – 28 September 1654) was a Flemish architect and sculptor who was particularly accomplished in portraits. He played an important role in the introduction o ...

. On the right side is the gallery with painted crests of the members of the

Order of the Golden Fleece The Distinguished Order of the Golden Fleece ( es, Insigne Orden del Toisón de Oro, german: Orden vom Goldenen Vlies) is a Catholic order of chivalry founded in Bruges by Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy, in 1430, to celebrate his marriag ...

. In the choir is the 1559 painting '' The Queen of Sheba visits King Solomon'' by the Flemish artist Lucas de Heere. This allegorical work depicts

King Solomon King is the title given to a male monarch in a variety of contexts. The female equivalent is queen, which title is also given to the consort of a king. *In the context of prehistory, antiquity and contemporary indigenous peoples, the ti ...

Philip II of Spain Philip II) in Spain, while in Portugal and his Italian kingdoms he ruled as Philip I ( pt, Filipe I). (21 May 152713 September 1598), also known as Philip the Prudent ( es, Felipe el Prudente), was King of Spain from 1556, King of Portugal from ...

, recognizable by his facial features, receiving gifts from the

Queen of Sheba The Queen of Sheba ( he, מַלְכַּת שְׁבָא‎, Malkaṯ Šəḇāʾ; ar, ملكة سبأ, Malikat Sabaʾ; gez, ንግሥተ ሳባ, Nəgśətä Saba) is a figure first mentioned in the Hebrew Bible. In the original story, she bring ...

, an allegory of the

Low Countries The term Low Countries, also known as the Low Lands ( nl, de Lage Landen, french: les Pays-Bas, lb, déi Niddereg Lännereien) and historically called the Netherlands ( nl, de Nederlanden), Flanders, or Belgica, is a coastal lowland region in N ...

, representing that country donating its riches to the Spanish king in thanks for his prudent government.

Nave

In the nave we find an impressive

rococo Rococo (, also ), less commonly Roccoco or Late Baroque, is an exceptionally ornamental and theatrical style of architecture, art and decoration which combines asymmetry, scrolling curves, gilding, white and pastel colours, sculpted moulding, ...

pulpit (1741–1745), made in oak, gilded wood and white and black marble by

Laurent Delvaux Laurent Delvaux (1696, in Ghent – 24 February 1778, in Nivelles) was a Flemish sculptor. After a successful international career that brought him to London and Rome, he returned to the Austrian Netherlands where he was a sculptor to the cou ...

, with

wrought-iron Wrought iron is an iron alloy with a very low carbon content (less than 0.08%) in contrast to that of cast iron (2.1% to 4%). It is a semi-fused mass of iron with fibrous slag inclusions (up to 2% by weight), which give it a wood-like "grain" t ...

railings by J. Arens. There are also chairs designed by the contemporary designer Maarten Van Severen. The main altar is placed between the nave and the choir.

Treasury and crypt

In the Chapel of the Holiest an important ''Calvary Triptych'' is on display. This 15th-century work is attributed to Justus van Gent. Finally, there is a valuable collection of important liturgical plates, reliquaries, and liturgical vessels dating from the 15th century onward. Among the important reliquaries are the head of Saint John the Baptist and of Saint Macarius. The important collection of hand-embroidered and brocaded liturgical ornaments is widely known as one of the most important of the country, some of which are put on display.

Chapter of Saint-Bavo

Still today the chapter is housed inside the cathedral, since its foundation. Members have been important prelates and members of noble houses. Today Jozef De Kesel is one of the honorary canons. The chapters of Haarlem and Ghent are united in friendship. Weekly the canons sing Mass with the bishop. * Maximilian van de Woestyne de Becelaere, died 1699: nephew of the

Marquess of Becelaere The Marquess of Becelaere is a former French title, now extinct. Becelaere, in Flanders, is an old spelling of Beselare, in Zonnebeke. History The title was created for Maximilien-Emmanuel de la Woestyne, 1st Marquess of Becelaere (1660-1729) ...

* Jacques Ignace van Parys, died 1702: grandson of Rubens. *

Constant van Crombrugghe Constant Guillaume Van Crombrugghe (14 October 1789 – 1 December 1865) was a Flemish canon and founder of several religious orders: Josephites or Fathers Jozefieten (1817) and Subsidiaries of the Sisters of Mary and Joseph. The latter congrega ...

* François III Maria Rubens, died 1720: great grandson of Rubens. *

Petrus Joseph Triest Peter Joseph Triest (31 August 1760 – 24 June 1836) was a prelate of the Diocese of Ghent. He is known for his foundations of religious communities in this diocese, and has been called "the St. Vincent de Paul of Belgium". Career He was bor ...

, founder of the Brothers of Charity * Thomas-Philip d'Alsace, Cardinal *

Antoon Stillemans Antoon Stillemans (10 December 1832, Sint-Niklaas – 5 November 1916, Ghent) was for 26 years the twenty-fourth bishop of Ghent, in Belgium. Education Stillemans began studies at the St. Joseph Minor Seminary of Sint-Niklaas in 1846. In 1853 ...

, before he was ordained bishop * Gustaaf Joos, before he was created cardinal * Jozef De Kesel, honorary Canon * Lode Aerts, before he was ordained bishop

Burials

Cornelius Jansen Cornelius Jansen (, ; Latinized name Cornelius Jansenius; also Corneille Jansen; 28 October 1585 – 6 May 1638) was the Dutch Catholic bishop of Ypres_in_Flanders.html" ;"title="atholic-Hierarchy]/ref> Its seat was Saint Martin's Cathedra ...

(1510–1576), first Bishop of Ghent (1565–1576) * Pieter Damant (1530-1609), third Bishop of Ghent (1589-1609) * Karl vanden Bosch, Bishop of Ghent *

Karel Justinus Calewaert Karel Justinus Calewaert (17 October 1893 – 27 December 1963) was a Belgian Roman Catholic bishop. Life Early years Calevaert was born in Deinze, a small town a short distance to the southwest of Ghent. His father, also named Justinus Cale ...

, (1893–1963): 27th Bishop of Ghent (1948–1963) * Prince Ferdinand de Lobkowitz (1726–1795) Bishop of Ghent, 1779–1795 * Philippus Erardus van der Noot, baroque tomb by Jan Boeksent. * Jan de Smet, Bishop of Ghent * Jan-Frans van de Velde (1779–1838), 20th Bishop of Ghent. * Gerard van Eersel (died 1778), Bishop of Ghent *

Ignace Schetz de Grobbendonk Ignacius Augustinus Schetz de Grobbendonk (1625–1680) was the 9th Bishop of Namur and the 11th Bishop of Ghent. Life Schetz de Grobbendonck was a son of Anthonie II Schetz and his second wife Maria van Malsen, lady of Tilburg. After graduating ...

(1625–1680), 11th Bishop of Ghent (1679–1680) *

Michelle of Valois Michelle of France (11 January 1395 – 8 July 1422), also called Michelle of Valois, was Duchess consort of Burgundy as the first wife of Philip III, Duke of Burgundy, called "Philip the Good". She was born a princess of France as the daughter o ...

, Duchess of Burgundy

References

External links

* {{Authority control Roman Catholic cathedrals in Belgium Roman Catholic churches in Ghent Gothic architecture in Belgium Romanesque architecture in Belgium Churches in East Flanders Burial sites of the Pippinids 10th-century establishments in Belgium Tourism in Belgium 10th-century churches Religious buildings and structures completed in 942