Saint Anthony Chapel (Salphen)

The chapel dedicated to Saint Anthony the Abbot in the hamlet of Salphen was built in 1626 by Adriaan Mattheussen as a result of a plague epidemic. Some parishioners of Oostmalle and Wechelderzande are said to have fled to Salphen in 1625 for fear of the plague. The chapel was built for these believers. After all, Saint Anthony Abbot was especially venerated against contagious diseases. The chapel would have an extra concourse in times of plague. In 1726 it had to be enlarged. January 17, the feast day of Saint Anthony, was particularly celebrated in the chapel. Presumably on that day the relic of Saint Anthony was put on display to the faithful. This relic has been in the chapel since 1750. There was also an indulgence to be earned on the feast day.

Kapelletje was founded in the 16th century, when there was a plague epidemic in Flanders.
Legend has it that about 60 inhabitants had fled from the village to the heath on Salphen before the disease.
One of the residents who lost some of his children to the epidemic was forced to bury them in the moors.
He erected a chapel in commemoration of his deceased children. Soon the chapel was used for funeral services and the dead were buried in the adjacent cemetery. The chapel became an attraction for pilgrims. For this reason, it was enlarged to its present appearance in 1726.
Saint Anthony:
the chapel was dedicated to Abbot Saint Anthony. In the niche of the altar there is therefore a statue of the saint with his pig. There are several stories as to why Saint Anthony is depicted with a pig. For example, it is said that in the Middle Ages the Saint Anthony Orders raised pigs at the expense of the community. In return they cared for the sick.This is one of the reasons why Saint Anthony is still invoked today against all contagious diseases, such as the plague (and corona).
Timeline of the chapel:
1626 Chapel founded
1726 Extension Chapel
1944 Damage from V1 bomb impact
1983 Protected as a monumentAnointing Fair:
On the feast day of Sint-Antonius, January 17 or the Saturday closest to it, the time-honoured Sint-Antoniusbegankenis or Zalfenkermis takes place in Malle.
After worship, pigs' heads are sacrificed and then auctioned.
Horses are blessed and the Saint Anthony's fire flares up. This is followed by a folkloric fair and a folk festival that lasts until the early hours.A picnic bench invites you to linger.
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