*Sept 16 2011 Saint Baaf's Kathedraal-Gent Belgium

Saint Baaf's Kathedraal

''September 16, 2011 God's Living Bible - The Third Testament - Research Library-Travels For Research - Travels of Anne Terri And Carlo Ferdinando

Saint Baaf's (Bavo's) Kathedraal (Cathedral) - Gent, Belgium (God Through Anne Terri And Carlo Ferdinando)

Yesterday, Carlo Ferdinando and Anne Terri traveled to the old city of Gent, Belgium. One of Carlo's missions was to see the famous religious painting by Jan Van Eyck, which is on display in Saint Baaf's Kathedraal. Jan Van Eyck is one of many artists, which have their works, or copies of their art displayed in Saint Baaf's. I have Directed them to do the research on Saint Baaf's and some of its vast historical significance. I Remind you these paintings reflect the beliefs of the time.

AMEN''

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SAINT BAAF'S KATHEDRAAL

Researched By Anne Terri and Carlo Ferdinando

Saint Baaf's Kathedraal, has a history which spans the decades, beginning as a small parish church, dedicated to John the Baptist. (941 A.D.) Each person which is a part of the history of Saint Baaf's Kathedraal, have had books written about them, which would take years to study, so I will keep this brief.

Later in the fifteenth century, during the reign of Emperor Charles V - The Holy Roman Emperor from 1519, also known as Charles Quint, and Karel V, there were many uprisings, which were about to split apart Christianity into separate ways of worship. It was the time of the German Priest, Martin Luther, which Emperor Charles V later spoke against, after he was ordered to appear before the general assembly of the estates of the Holy Roman Empire, on April 18, in 1521. This was known as the Diet of Worms. Actually, the town of Worms, which is along the Rhine river hosted this event.
The revolts were many, and in 1531 the Lutherans formed. The Emperor wanted the rebels to learn a lesson. Many were hung.

Emperor Charles V, often kept the pressure on Saint Bavo's Abbey Castle, which forced the canons of Saint Bavo's to move to Saint John's Church. This Emperor always had his eyes on Gent (Ghent).

In 1539 A.D. what had been, Saint John's Church was renamed as Saint Baafskerk. (Saint Baaf's Church or Saint Bavo's Church)

Rebellion also forced the Emperor to go to the Netherlands in 1552. Later, the Episcopal reclassification of the Netherlands in 1559 caused the formation of the diocese of Ghent (Gent) and Sint-Baafskerk was elevated to cathedral. (Saint Baaf's Cathedral)




Saint Baaf (Saint Bavo) was known as Allowin of Haspengouw Aldawin. (654 A.D.)
His early youth was wild, and he often sold his employees like slaves. Later, after his wife died, he was influenced by Saint Amandus, who was his mother's counselor. His sister was also a Saint, Saint Gertrude of Nivelles (St. Gegga)

Saint Baaf entered the monastery which was founded by Amandus. Later the monastery was renamed for himself as Saint Bavo Abbey. How did this name come to be, from Allowin of Haspengouw Aldawin? He took the name of Bavo. Bavo was a hermit in a tree which was then in a forest near the abbey.


Today

Until a few years ago, St. John's Church was still the parish church of St John's Parish and also Saint Bavo's Cathedral, remained the main church of the diocese of Gent.

However, the parishes of St. Michael, St. Nicholas and St. Bavo merged. Saint Baaf's Cathedral (Saint Bavo's) now serves only as a cathedral.

THE ART WORKS OF SAINT BAAF'S CATHEDRAL

RENAISSANCE PERIOD

The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb (Saint Baaf's Cathedral - Gent Belgium)



The Brothers Van Eyck - Jan, Hubert and Lambert

Jan Van Eyck who lived between 1395? and 1441 A.D., was the best known of the brothers who were Flemish artists.

He is thought to have painted before the end of the thirteenth century A. D. until the time of his death, in 1441.

Not all of Jan's art works have been found, which were documented as having been paid for by the officials. He is famous throughout northern Europe.

One of Jan and Herbert's Van Eyck's pieces still grace Saint Baaf's Kathedraal. Mystic Lamb (Het Lam Gods) The work on this painting is refined by the glazes which were used, and the fine detail in the many faces which are in the paneled altar piece.

However, Hubert and Lambert Van Eyck are relatively unknown, and there is not much information on their paintings, even though it is said all three brothers were artists who hailed from Limberg, Belgium.



The Paintings: The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb / The Lamb of God / Het Lam Gods

www.sintbaafskathedraal.be/en/gallery.html

This, multi paneled Altar piece, which was closed except for special Holy Days is on display at Saint Baaf's Kathedraal in Gent, Belgium. The closed view of the painting shows the Annunciation of Mary on one side and the people who paid to have this painting commissioned Jodocus Vijd and Lysbette Borluut

Seven separate panels are at the top: Left to right: Adam, the first man, an Angel choir, Mary, God and Jesus as One, John The Baptist, Angels Choir with pipe organ, and Eve who stands pregnant, to signify she carries the future of the human race within her womb.

In the bottom panels, there are five: from left to right. The Just Judges, The Knights Of Christ, The Center- The lamb standing, and pierced on the altar, in the middle of a worldly landscape with many varieties of trees and plant life. There are many groups of Holy Men and women of historical significance with surround the altar, with the fourteen angels of God kneeling in the center around the lamb.

On the left side of the center panel, in the front, there are the Jewish prophets, kneeling and holding the Holy Books. Just behind there are what is thought to be pagan philosophers and writers.
On the right side in the front, there are twelve men, dressed simply, and they are thought to be Jesus' twelve Apostles. Behind them there are the male saints. The Popes are at the front. They claim that Saint Stephen is here for he was stoned, and this figure carries rocks. He is amongst the martyrs, the men, and the women to the right. If seen closer, one can recognize who they are if you understand what they carry. For example, the martyrs carry what is known as the martyr's palms.

Adoration of the Lamb Panel - Center

These people of many races and cultures are from all over the world. Many cities and churches, including what is thought to be Jerusalem are depicted in the center piece.

Overseeing and lighting the scene, is The Holy Spirit, in the form of a white dove. The lamb is pierced on his right chest, with the blood pouring into a chalice which sits on the left side of the altar.
In the far front there is a flowing fountain, signifying the Fountain of life, which flows into a small river.

Two more right panels include: The Hermits and The Pilgrims.


History of The Mystic Lamb

The Mystic Lamb has been stolen many times in history. The art work being in panels, made it more easily accessible for various needs. For example, six of these were pawned in 1815, by the Diocese of Ghent. Eventually this caused these panels to fall into the hands of the English art collector Edward Solly. He intended to sell them again but had to wait. Later they were purchased by The King of Prussia for an enormous amount of money, 16,000 Pounds.
The six panels were placed on display in Berlin, at the Gemaldegalerie.

During World War I, other panels of The Mystic Lamb were taken from Saint Baaf's Kathedraal by Germany.

After WWI, part of the compensation for Germany's ''acts of destruction'' as part of the Treaty of Versailles, allowed for the return of all the panels, including the ones which were originally purchased by Solly.

The return of The Mystic Lamb panels to Saint Baaf's made the German people unhappy, and due to the new conflict with Germany in 1940, Belgium made the decision to protect the painting, which was sent to the Vatican City for safe keeping.

The painting was in transit, moving long the chosen route in France, on its way to the Vatican, when Italy declared war along side Germany. Therefore, plans changed, and in Pau, a museum became the home of The Mystic Lamb until World War II ended.

The importance of this masterpiece painting is apparent, for three countries' military representatives were required to sign together before they painting could be moved. to

Adolf Hitler, loved art, and was known to have produced watercolors. He sought to preserve many art pieces. His army even had an Art Protection Unit. They disagreed with Hitler's next decision, and he had them dismissed.

In 1942, Adolf Hitler stepped in ordering his people to seize the painting. The Mystic Lamb once more had a new home, a Bavarian castle in Germany. Even then, the painting was in danger with all the air raid attacks on the castle by the Allies.

After the end of World War II the Americans recovered the Mystic Lamb, and returned it to Belgium during a grand ceremony held at the Royal Palace of Brussels by Belgian royalty. There the famous seventeen panels where shown for to the press. Unfortunately, there was a sad decision made to exclude the French officials during the ceremony. They received the blame for not protecting The Mystic Lamb from theft of the Germans.

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Other known paintings by Jan Van Eyck:
La Madone au Chanoine Van der Paele 1434
The Arnolfini Portrait c. 1434 (National Gallery in London)
The Annunciation c. 1434 (National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C.)

Other Artists and paintings of Saint Baaf's Kathedraal

P. Rubens (Siegen) 1577-1640 Volledige Resolutie (Full Resolution)

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Artist: O. Van Veen (Leyden) 1558-1634 Jesus Teaching

Artist T. H. Rombouts 1597-1637 Jesus being taken off of Cross.



Saint Baaf's Crypt Museum: Various opulent, heavy, robes are on display, which were worn in the past by high level Holy Men, of the church. Ancient books sit under glass, all hand written in calligraphy, and hand illustrated. One in particular was from 1580 which was open to show designs for the stained glass for the church windows. These windows are no longer there, but were gifts by Kaiser Karel. (Emperor Charles V - The Holy Roman Emperor)

Also on display in the Crypt, is a Hymn book known as Zangboeken circa 1653.

A silver tray depicting the beheading of Saint John The Baptist: holds the silver head of John the Baptist on top. Silver Tray - John De Doper) dated between (1624-1625)

Most memorable, was a life sized, life like, fully colored set of statues, showing the scene of Mary holding Jesus after he is taken down from the cross. Artist unknown


''AMEN''