The Way of the Cross

The way of the cross in SaintThis is a title that the Church bestows on a deceased person who has lived a particularly righteous and faithful life. In the Roman Catholic and Orthodox Church, saints may be venerated (not worshipped). Several saints are also martyrs. Andrew’s (1845-1857) is the oldest of this type in Antwerp. No fewer than twelve painters produced one or two stations in Baroque style.  Even though the big paintings are colourful and emotional and even though some artists found inspiration in the works of great masters, the ensemble often remains academically cool. Vincent van Gogh, who, probably stimulated by his teachers at the Antwerp academy, came to look at their works, was not impressed.

However, thanks to the series, an initiative of vicarAccording to Canon Law, a vicar is a substitute of a minister. In a diocese, several vicars assist a bishop: priests who look after a certain policy area within the diocese (parishes, liturgy, etc.). Visschers, the church is less bare. This was certainly the case when the paintings were still in their monumental Baroque frames in which the instruments of the Passion had been incorporated, beside a cartouche with the title of the scene and the names of the donators. When in 1970-1975 the interior of the church was restored, these frames no longer fitted the urge for more austerity, which was characteristic for those days. The paintings even had to make room for pure architectural aesthetics (i.e. new, but false columns). The Stations of the Cross were hung close to each other in both transepts.

In 2003 they were put back in their original positions. The frames however, stored in some city warehouses, were lost. Instead of repeating a (superfluous) descriptive title of each stationOne of the fourteen stages of the Way of the Cross: Jesus is sentenced to death.
Jesus takes up the cross.
Jesus falls the first time.
Jesus meets His mother.
Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus carry the cross.
Veronica wipes Jesus’s face.
Jesus falls the second time.
Jesus comforts the mourning women.
Jesus falls the third time.
Jesus is stripped naked.
Jesus is nailed to the cross.
Jesus dies.
Jesus is taken down from the cross.
Jesus is laid into a tomb.
of the Cross, or emphasizing the counting of the stations or bringing the names of patrons back to life, the Dutch and English subtitles want to show intriguing questions inviting for contemplation.