«Cathedrals as a pathway to pilgrims» - the Nidaros tradition

The tradition of pilgrimage is alive and growing within European Christianity. The conference will explore the renewed interest in pilgrimage, which has again become so important at Nidaros Cathedral. What attracts modern pilgrims? How are they open for meaning, faith and new horizons? And how, in our experience, may cathedrals welcome pilgrims today?

Nidaros – Trondheim in the middle ages – was one of the most important shrines and centres of pilgrimage in Northern Europe. Over the last 30 years, pilgrims have arrived in Nidaros in ever larger numbers. They now arrive via a network of paths of pilgrimage and pilgrimage centres, and collaboration with national and local authorities, dioceses, parishes and volunteers is vital. But the shrine of St Olav was lost during the reformation, and the community at Nidaros cathedral is now continuously trying to recover, refocus and develop our practice and theology of pilgrimage. In the time of the pandemic, with entire nations walking through the wilderness, pilgrimage and welcome at cathedrals again needs to be rethought.

We hope that this conference will give both participants and hosts a unique opportunity to reflect on the nature of pilgrimage in late modern Europe and on how a pilgrim spirituality may be relevant to cathedral life.