St. Stephen's Church

Strikingly colorful church from the 18th century with much older tower. Inside, the most valuable works of art are collected in a treasure trove.

The early Gothic baptismal font is one of the oldest and most remarkable pieces in the church. Four heads are depicted at the corners of the cockpit: a man, a woman, a grey horse and a devil. They symbolize the four lifestreams in the Earthly Paradise which in turn symbolize the four evangelists: Geon (Matthew), Tigris (Mark), Euphrates (Lucs) and Physon (John).

Saint Stephen, the patron saint of the church, can be found in the painting above the main altar (1879). The canvas shows Stephen, also known as 'the first martyr', being stoned to death. The main altar used to be in the St. Paul's Cathedral in Liège and was picked up by the inhabitants of Hoesel by horse and cart.

The colorful stained glass windows in the choir tell the LEGEND OF SAINT HUBERT AND THE DEER on the north side. The windows on the south side are about the life of Saint Lambert.

SAINT HUBERT AND SAINT LAMBERT
Saint Hubert of Liège (7th century) converted after coming face to face with a deer that had a cross in its antlers during a hunting party. A vote be made to him to go to Lambertus, the bishop of Maastricht. Hubertus apprenticed to him and eventually succeeded him as bishop.
Saint Hubert is a popular saint in our regions. He is the patron saint of hunting. In many congregations, a Hubertus celebration still takes place every year, often in the open air, during which animals are blessed.
The deer with the cross between its antlers can be found today in the logo of the drink Jägermeister.

Open church: daily 10am-5pm.

Stichting Open Kerken