Faceless Nativity scene displayed in Brussels

The Nativity scene set up in the medieval Grand Place square in Brussels. Photo: Orthodoxia News Agency

At the end of November 2025, a Christmas nativity scene with faceless figures of the Mother of God and Joseph was installed at the Grand Place in Brussels. The unusual installation, conceived as "inclusive," attracted wide attention and sparked criticism in European media, reports the Orthodoxia News Agency.

The work titled "The Cloths of the Nativity", created by Brussels designer Victoria-Maria Geyer, is made from recycled fabrics and features translucent silhouettes without faces. The faces are replaced by a mosaic of beige-brown fabric fragments. According to the authors, the idea was to attempt to provide "an inclusive mix of all skin tones" and create a maximally universal image.

The installation provoked a sharp reaction in Belgium and France. Commentators accused the creators of "distorting Christian heritage" and replacing the traditional Nativity scene with a modernist provocation. The leader of the French-speaking right, Georges-Louis Bouchez, called the composition "offensive" and "an indecency and an insult to our traditions," and the faceless figures "zombies".

On social media, many users also expressed outrage. Some called the nativity scene "so simple it’s offensive," others "so ugly it’s provocative." There were also claims that the faces were removed "so as not to offend Muslims," as well as accusations of imposing "woke" ideology. Amid the criticism, the mayor of Brussels stated that the project was agreed upon with local church representatives.

Earlier, the UOJ wrote that in Brussels, abortion supporters attacked a Catholic bishop from Nigeria.

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