Storkyrkan, Ingegerdsleden

STORKYRKAN, the city church that became great.

It is not known when Storkyrkan was built, but it was probably around 1240, a few years before Birger Jarl founded the city of Stockholm. The church was built for the fishermen and sailors who populated the area and was therefore located on the edge of the old city center near the shoreline. The church was dedicated to St. Nicholas, the generous bishop from Myra with the red mitre, the patron of sailors and merchants and the model for the white-bearded figure who gives us gifts on Christmas Eve. The church is first mentioned in writing in 1279, when the knight Johannes Karlsson in his will promises one mark of silver to "ecclesia Sanct Nicolai in Stockholm". It was usually called the village church or Sankt Nicolai. It wasn't until the 17th century that it was named Storkyrkan, as other parish churches were built on the ore fields of the growing Stockholm. In 1336, the first coronation took place in the church, when Magnus Eriksson and Queen Blanche were crowned. The coronation procession included their mistress. In time, she would become known as Saint Bridget. The church at this time consisted of three naves with a tower in the west. In the mid-14th century, the church was expanded with a large chapel on the south side, the Chapel of Our Lady dedicated to Mary the Mother of Jesus. At its peak, the church had almost forty chapels, dedicated to various saints. Most were demolished during the Reformation. However, the Chapel of the Assumption from 1421 on the south side of the tower was spared. At the end of the century, the chapel was decorated by Albertus Pictor. Under Buchardt Precht's magnificent pulpit from 1702 lies the tomb of Olaus Petri. The churchgoers called their shepherd "Master Olaus in the hollow". The "holk", i.e. the pulpit, was his castle, from where he not only preached the new Lutheran doctrine, but also went to battle against Gustav Vasa, whom he thought was too ungodly. On April 20, 1535, an iron sign was seen in the sky over Stockholm in the form of six weather suns, or halos. According to Olaus Petri, such a sign meant 'the death of great lords, plague and famine, great anguish and distress', for which he held the king responsible. He had the king's court painter Urban Målare immortalize the whole thing, and then hung the picture in the Great Church. Olaus Petri was sentenced to death for this provocation, but he was pardoned shortly afterwards. Today, the painting, which is a copy, is interesting because it is the oldest image of Stockholm. Here you can see what the Gothic church looked like before Storkyrkan in Stockholm is also the cathedral of Sweden's youngest diocese. Gustav Vasa had the high choir demolished to get a better view of the castle's cannons. In 1740, the high Gothic tower of Storkyrkan was demolished and a new one was built that was more in the style of the new Baroque castle. However, the Gothic interior with its five naves was preserved. In 1925, the ecumenical meeting initiated by Nathan Söderblom was inaugurated in the church. 660 delegates, representing around 300 million Christians, took part. In 1942, the Diocese of Stockholm was formed and Storkyrkan became the cathedral. In 1998, Caroline Krook becomes the diocese's first female bishop. Olaus Petri would not have believed his eyes.

From "Ingegerdsleden: Pilgrimsled för andlighet, kultur och fred" published by the Church of Sweden. Available as PDF: https://www.svenskakyrkan.se/filer/Ingegerdsleden\_bok.pdf