Norway is a unique country that is unlike any other in Scandinavia. The local landscapes fascinate with their harsh and pure beauty, and Norwegian history can be read out on long winter evenings, so it seems fabulous and unusual. If you are lucky enough to come here, be sure to visit the city of Trondheim. Its main attraction is Nidaros Cathedral, to which this article is devoted.
Trondheim - one of the most important Norwegian cities
Many Norwegians consider Trondheim the oldest city in the country. It is characterized as the historical, cultural and religious center of Norway. Numerous tourists come here to get acquainted with the sights of the city, many of which are more than a thousand years old. The Norwegians themselves come here as pilgrims to visit the Nidaros Cathedral. Lutheran Cathedral is a religious shrine that has experienced periods of prosperity and oblivion for many hundreds of years.
Despite its long history and some severity, Trondheim is a vibrant and youthful city. Life is seething here, and at night some quarters simply dumbfire tourists with an abundance of lights and entertainment centers. But still, first of all, the city should be considered in the context of a religious center, because the very Nidaros Cathedral, about the history of which we will tell you now, played a great role in its formation and development.
St. Olav: Viking and Hero of Norway
It is difficult to talk about the Nidaros Cathedral (Trondheim) without mentioning the Norwegian hero, who became the root cause of this extraordinary religious structure in the Gothic style. Therefore, our story begins precisely with Olav Haraldson.
He was born in 995 in Norway, until his teens, Olav led the life of a simple Viking, who at various times was hired by the English king and duke of Normandy. But at eighteen, he was baptized in France and went to Jerusalem. During the pilgrimage, the eighteen-year-old Olav had a vision in which God called him to return to Norway and enter the struggle for the throne. The young man obeyed, and a few years later he became the king of the country and was revered as a national hero. For thirteen years, Olav ruled Norway fairly and wisely, but his dream was to convert all his subjects to Christianity. To this end, he made several missionary trips inland, where with the help of force he tried to plant a new religion for pagan tribes. This led to military clashes, as a result of which the throne was lost to Olav.
In exile, he prayed a lot and once again received a vision that called him to another fight for Norway. A year later, with a hastily assembled army, the overthrown king went on a campaign, ending for him with the death of July twenty-ninth, 1030. Olav was buried with honors near a sandbank (right now Nidaros Cathedral stands here) in Nidaros. We can say that from this moment the history of the Lutheran shrine began.
Holy place
A year after the death of Olav, the Norwegians decided to rebury his remains, but when they opened the grave, they were shocked - the king’s body did not decay. The local bishop elevated him to the rank of saints and set about building a small chapel made of wood. It should have been located directly above the grave of St. Olav.
Ordinary Norwegians wanted to see the grave of the legendary king with their own eyes, so they began to come here as pilgrims. Surprisingly, many were cured of various diseases after spending several days in the chapel. The fame of the holy place spread throughout the country with the speed of lightning, and the pilgrims who came here contributed to the development of the city.
About forty years later, on the site of a modest chapel, a monumental stone structure was built - the Nidaros Cathedral, which has survived to this day in almost unchanged form.
Reformation, the ban on pilgrimage and the revival of the shrine
For many years, the cathedral flourished, and everyone who came here with an open heart and sincere prayer received a long-awaited response to their ardent requests. But the Protestant Reformation turned the cathedral into Lutheran, and the tomb of Olav was transported to Copenhagen. All precious stones were removed from it and the base itself was melted into coins. Pilgrimage to these places fell under a strict ban. For many years, oblivion and decline awaited Nidaros Cathedral.
Norway only a few decades ago managed to return the cathedral to its former status, and on the day of Olav’s death pilgrims from all over Scandinavia flock here, despite their belonging to the Protestant church. On such days in Trondheim it is simply impossible to find free places in hotels and hostels, all of them are booked for six months.
Cathedral Description
Nidaros Cathedral is a mixture of medieval styles and traditions. Several times he was rebuilt and rebuilt after fires, and therefore managed to survive to this day in such good condition.
In the eleventh century, the cathedral looked like a simple basilica, a little later carved stone cornices were added to it. The nave is decorated with gargoyles made in a rather realistic manner. Many of these stone statues are still terrifying. They are complemented by a complex and bizarre pattern that turns this part of the cathedral into something completely fantastic.
The western pediment is fully consistent with the characteristics of the Gothic style. It is decorated with a tall and narrow window, turrets and niches. Sculptures are located in each niche; they depict saints, apostles, and heroes of Old Testament plots.
Of particular interest to historians is the chapel of St. John, it is located in the oldest part of the temple and has remained virtually unchanged since its construction in 1161.
The interior of the cathedral
Despite the fact that many of the most valuable pieces of medieval art were irretrievably lost, Nidaros Cathedral is considered one of the most luxurious in Scandinavia. Here are collected unique stone statues and other objects made by skilled craftsmen of the Middle Ages.
Many tourists tremblingly consider the body located in the temple. Now there are two instruments installed that sound great in pairs. To listen to church singing during the liturgy, once a week numerous parishioners and tourists of Trondheim flock to the cathedral.
The marble altar, created in the fourteenth century, is decorated with carvings depicting the life story of St. Olav and his death. For tourists, a collection of tombstones is of interest. They contain not only inscriptions in various languages, but also portraits of the deceased.
If you find yourself in Trondheim, be sure to choose the time and spend it on visiting the Nidaros Cathedral. In addition, one of its towers offers simply magnificent views of the ancient and beautiful city.