A few dates:
On 15 September 2007, the idea came to Father Guy: “This is where I must come to celebrate.”
On 6 May 2009, the premises were chosen together with the new rector of the shrine.
On 13 June 2009, a first liturgy celebrated in the premises as they stood marked the founding by Father
Hegumen Guy (Fontaine) of the Orthodox chapel of Our Lady of All Protection
An agreement between the Archdiocese and the shrine was signed on 15 March 2010.
On 30 September 2012, Archbishop Gabriel consecrated the altar during a Liturgy attended by
Bishop Aloys Jousten of Liège.
In a few words:
Located on the Catholic Marian estate of Banneux – which is what makes it unique – the Orthodox chapel
dedicated to Our Lady of All Protection bears witness to the same veneration and
the same prayer to the Mother of God, but from another tradition.
The chapel is Orthodox, that is, the services are open to all but communion is
reserved for Orthodox faithful alone. The languages of the celebrations are Church Slavonic, French and a
hint of Greek.
After years of occasional celebrations, there are now regular services on Sundays
and for the great feasts.
The chapel welcomes pilgrimages (for example the annual one of a Georgian parish
from Brussels), the celebration of sacraments (we have celebrated funerals and baptisms here and
welcomed a Syriac community with its priest for a baptism); a Romanian priest has celebrated
a liturgy here with his faithful visiting Banneux. Also visits of a few hours by
ecumenical groups.
The chapel houses a genuine relic of St Alexis of Ugine who, together with St Mother Maria Skobtsova, is
the protector of the chapel.