Saint Leonard

This duplex polychrome statue of Mary is located at the back of the nave. Mary is depicted as a woman from the Apocalypse, dressed with the moon and the sun. She stands in a rosary that is held by six angels (oak, 1533, neo-Gothic polychrome)

The Easter Candelabra stands on the left when entering the choir. Cast in 1483 by Renier van Thienen using the lost wax technique from a design by Jan Borman, it is 5.68 metres high, weighs 950 kilograms, and is one of Europe’s largest. The oldest part of Saint Leonard’s church is the early 13th century choir, with its ambulatory, open gallery in iron sandstone, closed gallery with twin columns, and clerestory.

The highlight of the church can be found in the northern transept. The Sacrament house constructed in white sandstone from Avesnes (France) is a masterpiece made by stone mason and sculptor Cornelis II Floris de Vriendt from Antwerp. It was a present from the church’s patron, squire Maarten van Wilre and his wife Maria, to the Saint Leonard’s church. Iconography on the Eucharist theme can be found in the tower monstrance (1550-1552, height 18 m (59 feet), 9 floors)

This statue can be found above the entrance to the sacristy. It probably originally comes from the first parish church of Zoutleeuw that was dedicated to Saint Sulpitius of Bourges. The Corpus Christ (1060-1070) is older than the Saint Leonard’s church itself. Victorious over death, Christ is no longer carrying a thorn crown. His loincloth is quite long and his feet are nailed next to each other. Christ’s face is exceptionally expressive.

The oldest statue of the patron saint of the church can be found in the southern transept. He is also the patron of the city of Zoutleeuw: the French hermit and liberator Leonard. Leonard is depicted holding a dalmatic and a set of rock crystal pearls. In his one hand he holds a book and in his other a staff. He wears a big tonsure, that attests to his austere, ascetic life in the French Limousin. His gaze is focused on infinity (circa 1360, Baltic oak).

Mathijs van Lovenen (more than likely the well-known constructor from Leuven Mathijs de Layens) built a devotional chapel to Saint Leonard in the southern transept in 1442. This chapel is now used as treasury.