Holy Cross Church, Bergen

Holy Cross Church[1][2] (Norwegian: Korskirken) is a special parish church in Bergen municipality in Vestland county, Norway. It is situated in the centre of the city of Bergen, just east of the head of the Vågen bay. The church is located at the intersection of the streets Kong Oscars gate and Nedre Korskirkeallmenning. It is one of the churches for the Bergen domprosti parish which is part of the Bergen domprosti (arch-deanery) in the Diocese of Bjørgvin. The large stone church was built in a cruciform style around the year 1150 using designs by an unknown architect. The church seats about 600 people.[3][4]

Holy Cross Church
Korskirken
View of the church
Holy Cross Church
Location of the church
Holy Cross Church
Holy Cross Church (Norway)
60.3949°N 5.3277°E / 60.3949; 5.3277
LocationBergen, Vestland
CountryNorway
DenominationChurch of Norway
Previous denominationCatholic Church
ChurchmanshipEvangelical Lutheran
History
StatusSpecial parish church
Foundedc. 1150
Architecture
Functional statusActive
Architect(s)Unknown
Architectural typeCruciform
Completedc. 1150
Specifications
Capacity600
MaterialsStone
Administration
ParishBergen domkirke
DeaneryBergen domprosti
DioceseBjørgvin bispedømme
TypeChurch
StatusAutomatically protected
ID84827

History

The oldest part of the church dates back to the second half of the 12th century. The first church on the site was built around the year 1150. Holy Cross Church was first mentioned in Sverris saga from 1185. At the time of construction, the church was situated on the shore of Vågen, probably marking the southern border of settlement in Bergen.

The name refers to the True Cross (and not to its cruciform plan), and is rendered in English as "Holy Cross Church" or "Church of the Cross". This is because it was, as one of only a handful Norwegian churches, in possession of a relic from the True Cross. This relic was later stolen by the Danish king, along with several other relics from all over the country, during the Reformation.

Holy Cross Church was damaged in the fires of 1198, 1248, 1413, 1582, 1623, 1640 and 1702; the church originally had two towers, but one was destroyed in the 1582 fire and never rebuilt. It was originally built with straight rectangular plan. The church got its cruciform plan when transepts were added around 1615-1623.[5][6][7]

The church was a parish church for Holy Cross Church parish in central Bergen from 1320 until 2002. In 2002, several urban parishes in central Bergen were merged to form the "Bergen domkirke" parish. At the same time, Holy Cross Church ceased to be a regular parish church. It was given over to the Church City Mission (Kirkens Bymisjon), and is now a special church in the urban parish. The church is an "open church" that is staffed every day so that people can experience silence or participate in the lighting of candles, conversation, community, attending church services, or listening to music. The Church City Mission focuses a lot on social work among the urban neighborhood as well as religious outreach.[8]

  • Aerial view
  • Holy Cross Church Tower
  • Holy Cross Church Side View
  • Holy Cross Church Entrance
  • Holy Cross Church Cemetery
  • Interior view
  • Interior view
  • Interior door
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See also

References
  1. Nes, Solrunn (2004). The Mystical Language of Icons. Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans. p. 111.
  2. Hall, Colin Michael; Müller, Dieter K.; Saarinen, Jarkko (2008). Nordic Tourism: Issues and Cases. Bristol: Channel View Publications. p. 97.
  3. "Korskirken, Bergen". Kirkesøk: Kirkebyggdatabasen. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
  4. "Oversikt over Nåværende Kirker" (in Norwegian). KirkeKonsulenten.no. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
  5. Gunnar Hagen Hartvedt (1994). "Korskirken". Bergen Byleksikon.
  6. Eide, Øyvind (1981). Korskirken : 1181 - 800 år - 1981. Bergen: Rådet. ISBN 82-7128-056-2.
  7. "Kirker i Hordaland fylke" (in Norwegian). DIS-Hordaland. Retrieved 11 August 2014.
  8. "Korskirken" (in Norwegian). Bergen City Archive. Retrieved 11 August 2014.

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