Söndag 3/22/15
On Sunday we were invited to the Storkyrkan (Big Church). It is situated in Gamla Stan (Old Town) and was founded in the 13th century. This is when Christianity came to Scandinavia and the Vikings were converted. Its current shape has existed since the 15th or 16th century. At first it was Catholic but was renovated when Sweden became Lutheran after the Reformation in the 1600s.
One of the priests (what they call pastors at this church), Sabina, at the church spent a year at Gustavus my freshman year. This Sunday she co-preached with her colleague. It was all in Swedish but an interesting cultural experience. After the service she gave us a tour of the church. The inside was lavishly furnished due to the Baroque period. It was interesting to see such decoration in a Lutheran church. There were also balconies (pictured below) where the priest could be seen by all of the congregation.
On Sunday we were invited to the Storkyrkan (Big Church). It is situated in Gamla Stan (Old Town) and was founded in the 13th century. This is when Christianity came to Scandinavia and the Vikings were converted. Its current shape has existed since the 15th or 16th century. At first it was Catholic but was renovated when Sweden became Lutheran after the Reformation in the 1600s.
One of the priests (what they call pastors at this church), Sabina, at the church spent a year at Gustavus my freshman year. This Sunday she co-preached with her colleague. It was all in Swedish but an interesting cultural experience. After the service she gave us a tour of the church. The inside was lavishly furnished due to the Baroque period. It was interesting to see such decoration in a Lutheran church. There were also balconies (pictured below) where the priest could be seen by all of the congregation.
My view of the service
Vaulted ceiling. This section was painted as part of a little chapel for one of the saints when the church was Catholic. At one point there were about 50 chapels off the main hall, as was tradition.
The memorial grave of Olaus Petri who helped convert Sweden to Lutheranism. He convinced the King to make the switch as long as he could have a state church, which he then could acquire revenue from.
Wooden statue of St. George and the Dragon. This is a popular story in Sweden that is about a little town in Libya that was plagued by a dragon. The dragon insisted on eating up all the cattle of the town. One day he required a child sacrifice or he would burn the whole town down. The king made a lottery and who ever drew the bad ticket had to sacrifice their child. One day the king drew the bad ticket and the princess was to be sacrificed. St. George rode by and said he would slay the dragon if they all converted to Christianity. They agreed, the dragon was slain and the town lived on!
This painting hangs in the church. It is the oldest known painting of Stockholm from the 1630s. The original was painted in 1535 but that has been lost. Olaus Petri, a preacher at the church saw the five halos in the sky and commissioned a painting. The church was made larger in proportion to the palace to try and promote the church power over the king. When the king saw this he threw the Petri and the artist in prison. Petri was later released but the artist committed suicide from shame.
Ruby enjoying a chai latte at lunch.
After lunch we were let up to the bell tower. There were 202 treacherous stairs! It was super windy but such a gorgeous view.
Ruby, Paget, Me, Kenzie, Lindsey
Paget, Kenzie and I in the narrowest alley in Stockholm.
You're really taking me to church in this blog! Fascinating history! I had known of a story about St. George and a dragon but not the particulars, especially about it taking place in Libya. The story of the early painting sounds more like a myth than factual history, and the look of your panorama more like a painting than a photo. You are doing an absolutely wonderful job! Your mother and I are so happy that you were able to have this experience.
ReplyDelete