Cathedral and Town

Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim is the historical resting place of St. Olav and an end point of many of the pilgrimage trails in Norway. The history of the cathedral intersects with the history of the city and the region as one of significant economic and religious significance. The movement of St. Olav’s relics throughout the city matches urban and religiocultural development of city and nation. This chapter explores the cathedral’s architecture and use and how contemporary engagements with the space facilitate ritual creativity and are part of the hosting and welcoming of pilgrims. Along with other centers of hospitality, the cathedral looms especially large as a main attraction point for both tourists and pilgrims in Trondheim, as an adaptable space for many purposes. The annual St. Olavsfest is a ten-day festival that begins with the saint’s day and features liturgies, concerts, plays, lectures, a medieval market, and televised panel discussions to involve city and region in the celebration of local history and culture. Controversial topics such as the colonial repression of Sámi indigenous peoples, the violent heritage of Viking king St. Olav, religious and other forms of discrimination, social injustice, and international solidarity are among the themes discussed during the festival. Thus, the “protest” in Protestantism is reflected in a critical engagement with history and with the ongoing development of the ritualization of Christian history and heritage in Norway.