Full Breakdown
Brussels Cathedral Replaces Antisemitic Stained Glass with Apology Plaque
4/28/2026, 5:49:45 AM
Apology Plaque Unveiled in Brussels Cathedral
On Wednesday, Archbishop Luc Terlinden and Brussels Chief Rabbi Albert Guigui unveiled an apology plaque in the Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula. The plaque replaces a stained-glass window that had shown caricatured Jews and acknowledges the antisemitic nature of the 1370 ‘Sacrament of Miracle’ accusation. The text appears in Dutch, French, English and Hebrew and asks Jewish community for forgiveness.
Historical Context of the 1370 Accusation
The ‘Sacrament of Miracle’ refers to a 1370 incident on Good Friday when at least six Jews of Brussels were accused of stealing communion breads and piercing them, prompting a claimed eucharistic miracle. The accused were burned and the Jewish community expelled. Stained-glass windows depicting Jews stabbing bread were installed in the early 1900s, perpetuating the narrative for decades.
Official Catholic Church Statement
The Church declared that the former stained-glass depictions ‘were inseparably linked to antisemitism’ and that the new plaque ‘recognizes the wrongful accusation of Jews in 1370 and seeks forgiveness for the suffering caused.’ Archbishop Terlinden said the removal marks a concrete step toward healing past wounds.
Verbatim Quotes
- “What is essential today is how we look at these images: They should not be erased, because they are part of history, but they must be accompanied by explanatory language, by ethical and spiritual insight that allows us to understand, contextualize, and above all avoid repeating the past,” — Albert Guigui, Chief Rabbi of Brussels
- “In that sense, today’s approach transforms these stained-glass windows: they are no longer only a reflection of a painful past; they also become the starting point for a shared reflection on truth, memory, and responsibility.” — Albert Guigui, Chief Rabbi of Brussels
- “We cannot change the past, but we can decide how we pass it on. And in that lies an immense duty: to ensure that the stories which once divided us become opportunities for reconciliation,” — Albert Guigui, Chief Rabbi of Brussels
- “We acknowledge that at the end of the Middle Ages, in various regions of Europe, Jewish communities were wrongly accused of desecrating hosts [communion breads]. This slander, often fueled by fear and religious ignorance, led to persecutions, massacres, and unjust expulsions.” — Albert Guigui, Chief Rabbi of Brussels
Data Summary
1370 accusation; at least six Jews executed; stained-glass windows installed early 1900s; plaque text in Dutch, French, English, Hebrew.
Implications and Future Dialogue
The removal and multilingual apology signal a concrete step toward acknowledging historic antisemitism and fostering interfaith dialogue. Both the Catholic Church and the Jewish community emphasized the need for continued reflection and cooperation to avoid repeating past prejudices.
