Saint Mauritius Church Varsenare

The church is dedicated to Saint Mauritius and his companions, the Theban Legion .

The tower was built shortly after 1200 . The actual neo-Gothic church building dates from 1896-1897 after the former church was demolished. The early Gothic tower was incorporated into the new church and restored, including the four corner turrets removed in 1840.

The church is walled all around and lined with espaliers and has a beautiful wrought iron railing around the adjacent cemetery.

Mauritius was the leader of the Theban legion in the 3rd century. His entire Roman legion of 6,666 men, all converts, refused to make sacrifices to the gods to implore victory at the behest of Emperor Maximian. By imperial order, the legion was subsequently decimated (one in ten killed). Twice every tenth man was executed. However, the survivors did not resist and were supported by their commander, Mauritius. The rebellion was smothered in blood, the legion was sentenced to death to the last man, tortured and finally slaughtered so that they were martyred together.

Willem Vandenameele