Antwerp (The Brussels Morning Newspaper): The group Voor Kruis en Beeld decorated the Madonna statue on Antwerp’s city hall with sunflowers with permission from Mayor Bart De Wever. The annual Maria procession will take place on August 14.
Lawyer Pascal Mallien from the Guild of Our Lady of Praise shared a letter from mayor Bart De Wever allowing the group Voor Kruis en Beeld to decorate the Madonna statue on the city hall. This statue created by sculptor Philip de Vos is 45 meters high and looks over the city between international flags and two other statues. Mallien noted that it’s quite special for a religious statue to be on a government building. He also explained that Brabo the traditional founder of the city was removed in 1587 during the Counter-Reformation replaced by the Madonna statue and the fate of Brabo’s statue remains a mystery today similar to the missing panel from the famous painting The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb.
What is the significance of the Madonna statue in the city and how is it being celebrated this year?
It has been said that in Belgian church and state are usually kept separate which is why the Madonna statue on the city hall hasn’t been very visible for a long time. Alain Cols from the group Voor Kruis en Beeld shared that since the statue has been watching over the city for 900 years it’s finally time for her to be noticed again. They decorated her with a bed of sunflowers and these flowers will last a while. The mayor said the sunflowers can stay until August 20. They are also using the feast day of Our Lady to brighten up five other less noticeable Mary statues in the city especially those near the Grote Markt.
Alain Cols from the group Voor Kruis en Beeld shared that they have decorated the Madonna statue with a beautiful bed of sunflowers working together with the Royal Belgian Flower Arrangement Society. These sunflowers are chosen because they are vibrant and can last for a long time adding a lovely touch to the statue. The mayor has given permission for these yellow flowers to stay in place until August 20th allowing more people to enjoy this colorful display during the festive period. This effort is part of a larger initiative to celebrate and bring attention to the statue and its significance in the city.
The annual Maria procession is set to take place on Wednesday, August 14, at 6 PM for the 625th time. This year the route will be longer than usual led by Bishop Johan Bonny accompanied by approximately three hundred faithful. The procession will visit the Cathedral and the Grunplatz area as well as the Grunt Market and the Ode Koorn Market. At the start of the procession there will be a special moment of reflection and a lyrical tribute from a famous flamenco artist. Members of the organizing committee have stated that due to the extended route they will be using double bearers to carry the beautiful statue of Mary. The procession is always a moment of silence and respect in the city and they are hoping for good weather.
