{"id":38067,"date":"2021-05-28T10:45:45","date_gmt":"2021-05-28T08:45:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/topa.be\/olv-kathedraal\/beschrijving\/hoofdportaal\/"},"modified":"2021-10-14T16:43:59","modified_gmt":"2021-10-14T14:43:59","slug":"hoofdportaal","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/topa.be\/en\/olv-kathedraal\/beschrijving\/hoofdportaal\/","title":{"rendered":"OLV The main portal"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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The Our Lady\u2019s Cathedral of Antwerp, a revelation.<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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The fa\u00e7ade with the main portal:<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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The Last Judgment<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Antwerp cathedral - the main portal (JV)<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The cathedral definitely lacks a majestic entrance. From the beginning, at the start of the above ground works at the Northern tower in 1422, there was no longer need for steps. To adapt to the consequences of spring tides threatening the city since the Scheldt \u2013 the present Western Scheldt \u2013 had found its new bed not only the church floor, but even more the surrounding streets and squares were levelled up.<\/p>\n

The main portal is oriented towards the West, which, with the setting sun, carries in it the primal symbolism of decay and death. The church behind the door is \u2018the house of God\u2019 and so symbolizes Heaven. Those who enter Heavenly Jerusalem here get a serious warning above their heads,\u00a0as in so many medieval churches,\u00a0the Last Judgement on the tympanum. This tableau was painted in bright colours in various successive versions until the 18th<\/sup>\u00a0century. The neo-Gothic main portal, by Jean-Baptist van Wint, only dates back to 1903!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Antwerp cathedral - scheme of the main portal<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Antwerp cathedral – main portal – memento mori (JV)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/p>\n

The motif of\u00a0memento mori<\/em>\u00a0or the thought of death emphasizes this warning. A monk keeps his mind on the approaching future: in his lap there is a skull. In the lowest section people wake up from death, just as if they awoke on an lazy morning. At the four corners of the Earth (Apoc. 7:1) angels give a signal by blowing the trumpet (Apoc. 8:2.6). Knights, common people and a monk represent nobility, citizenry and clergy. All medieval classes are present because for death everybody is equal. In the second section every human ends up on a pair of scales, held by archangel Michael. The human soul, the deepest kernel of his personality \u2013 represented by a small human figure \u2013 is carefully weighed. In other words, the final report states whether good or bad was decisive in your life. The actual judge of the final verdict is Christ, who sits on top on his bench. His power over evil and death is beyond any doubt. At both sides of his throne his signs of victory are exhibited: the cross on which he was tortured to death and the spear that pierced his heart. Mary and John the Baptist act as advocates to receive mercy for some poor wretched ones. The division between the good and the bad ones in this judgment is done according to the symbolism of left and right, which Jesus himself used in the passage about the works of mercy (Mth. 25:33-31.41). When good is predominant the scale tips towards Heaven. The blessed ones are rewarded with nice clothes and a crown, and smile, anticipating being welcomed by Saint Peter, who with his keys opens Heaven\u2019s door for them. At Jesus\u2019s left hand side those for whom evil dominated are driven to hell to be punished there. Naked they fall victim to blazing flames and cry out with pain. Devilish figures pull at them with hooked instruments and push the damned ones forward towards the mouth of the monster of darkness, the entrance to hell.<\/p>\n

In the archivolts a heavenly court is positioned in a fan-shaped formation, in order of merit, around Christ to do Him honour. In the front rank angels are singing and making music, because Heaven is full of joy. Among the instruments we perceive a violin and a portative organ. In the second arch there are Old Testament figures, including a great number of prophets reading out quotations in Latin from their own texts. Then in the third rank the twelve apostles can be recognized by their attributes. In the external rank there are all kinds of saints, including the Western and Eastern church fathers. In the centre of the portal you are welcomed by Mary, to whom the church has been devoted. She shows her son, Jesus, the Saviour of the world.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Antwerp cathedral - main portal - saints at the left (JV)<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Antwerp cathedral - main portal - saints at the right (JV)<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Below, in the portal walls also saints welcome us in Heavenly Jerusalem. These so-called Antwerp saints were not Antwerpians themselves, but resided here for a while, most of them in times of Christianization. Missionary bishops of the first hour (7th<\/sup>\u00a0century) are: Eligius from France, Amandus from Aquitaine and Willibrord from England. Without them there would never have been a cathedral here. Two women went further inland passing by Antwerp: Walburga and the Irish princess Dymphna (6th<\/sup>\u00a0century), who was on the run for her pagan father, who wanted to commit incest with her. In Geel (province of Antwerp) she was decapitated by him in a fit of devilish insanity. This is why in Geel she is venerated against mental diseases. Saint Norbert (beginning 12th<\/sup>\u00a0century), who crushed Tanchelm\u2019s heresy, was also at the cradle of this church.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tOur Lady's Spire<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThe spatial effect in the interior of a Gothic church<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Bird's eye view on Antwerp, woodcut by Virgilius Bononiensis, 1565 - detail with the cathedral<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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