Long distance walkers to Nidaros Cathedral now receive a new diploma. It has been given the name 'Olav letter' ('Olavsbrevet'). Trondheim has now in other words a pilgrim diploma, just like Jerusalem, Rome and Santiago de Compostela.
The Olav letter is given as a confirmation that one has walked along the pilgrim way to Nidaros. To qualify you must have walked the last 100 kilometers into Trondheim. To document your trip you use the
Pilgrim pass.
On arrival you answer an questionnaire (being revised) as part of the work of compiling pilgrimage statistics.
The pilgrim priest at Nidaros will confirm that you have completed your pilgrimage with a stamp and his signature. He has his office in the
Pilgrim Rooms at Waisenhuset.
The Olav letter is a gift from Nidaros Cathedral to pilgrims who have walked to Trondheim and is not for sale.
The Olav letter is designed in the same format as other European pilgrim diplomas. The text is based on a similar document that was issued to pilgrims who walked to Rome. The Latin text has got a parallel Norwegian text. The figures on the diploma originate from the 'Hedalsskrin' (shrine or casket) from 1250 AD. They show St Olav and the pilgrims' apostle St James, in Spanish Santiago. St James is the universal Christian pilgrim. He is portrayed on the front of Nidaros Cathedral with his typical pilgrim's outfit, hat, staff, bag and shell.
In contrast to the other diplomas the Olav letter includes a simple map with a small selection of pilgrimage centres. This has been done to give the diploma an international character and to show that Nidaros stood – and still stands – in a greater context. The illustration on the Olav letter includes the important pilgrimage centres Rome and Santiago de Compostela as well as a selection of other centres like Vadstena (Sweden), Viborg (Denmark), Canterbury (England), Cologne and Aachen (Germany), and Vezelav (France). Rome was also an important port for pilgrimages to Jerusalem.
Today it is Nidaros in the North, Santiago in the West, Rome in the South and Jerusalem in the East that are the main goals for the modern pilgrim.
Illustration bottom right : The seal of Nidaros Cathedral Chapter from 1225 shows St Olav sitting on the throne with crown, sceptre and orb.
A photo of the Cathedral Chapter seal can be seen in the
article about Nidaros Cathedral. The crown symbolises royal power, the sceptre worldly power, the orb dominion, while the sword symbolises military might and justice.
Urd von Hentig has drawn and developed the diploma in cooperation with Eivind Luthen, the Pilgrim office in Oslo and pilgrim priest Rolf Synnes, Trondheim. The Latin text has been translated and adapted by Willy Abildsnes.
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