An international pilgrimage network spanning Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark and Estonia will extend to the UK for the very first time as Norfolk is added to the St Olav Ways route.
The county is set to become the first UK member of the trail which since the 11th century has been attracting pilgrims to the tomb of St Olav in Nidaros Cathedral, in the Norwegian city of Trondheim.
The addition of Norfolk to St Olav Ways, an accredited Cultural Route of the Council of Europe, will be celebrated at a special event exploring the historic connections between Norway and various parts of the United Kingdom.
Held at Norwich Cathedral on Tuesday 10 September, the symposium will host a representative of the Royal Norwegian Embassy along with a range of experts from Norway as well as churches and heritage sites in the Orkney Islands, the Isle of Man, London, Cumbria, Chester and York.
Hans Morten Lovrod, Director of Trondheim’s National Pilgrimage Centre and Manager of St Olav Ways, said:
“It is important that we highlight the connections between Olav Haraldsson and Britain and that we acknowledge his influence through his conversion to Christianity. We are very pleased to discover a variety of churches and heritage sites connected with St Olav and delighted to have the UK as member of our Cultural Route.”
Norwich Cathedral and Norfolk County Council have collaborated on this initiative, aiming to add to Norfolk’s reputation for rich historic heritage.
Many strong links have made the county a natural place in which to extend the international pilgrimage route, including Norfolk being home to the village of St Olaves – the site of a priory dedicated to the Norwegian saint.
The Revd Dr Peter Doll, Canon Librarian of Norwich Cathedral, added:
“The story of the Scandinavian encounter with Britain represented by St Olav, both before and after his death, is one of enmity turned to friendship by means of a shared faith. Those shared values continue to bind the United Kingdom and Norway and will be strengthened by our pilgrimage links.”