Diocese of Bjørgvin
Encyclopedia
Bjørgvin Diocese is a diocese
in the Church of Norway
. It covers churches located in the counties of Hordaland
and Sogn og Fjordane
. The cathedral city is Bergen. Bergen Cathedral
, formerly the Church of Saint Olaf, serves as the seat of the presiding Bishop. The bishop since 2008 has been Halvor Nordhaug
.
in the traditional district
of Nordfjord
during the 1000's. The seat was moved to Bergen in 1170 during the reign of King Magnus V. In 1537 the diocese consisted of the (modern) counties Hordaland
and Sogn og Fjordane
(with exception of Eidfjord and Røldal). The region Sunnmøre
was transferred from the Diocese of Nidaros
to Bjørgvin in 1622. The parish Eidfjord
was transferred from the Diocese of Stavanger
to Bjørgvin in 1630. The parish Røldal
was transferred from the Diocese of Kristiansand (see Diocese of Agder og Telemark
) to Bjørgvin in 1863. The region Sunnmøre was (together with Nordmøre
and Romsdal
) established as a diocese of its own (Diocese of Møre
) in 1983.
forms of the name for Bergen was Bjorgvin. The first element is berg or bjørg, which translates as mountain. The last element is vin, which translates as meadow.
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
in the Church of Norway
Church of Norway
The Church of Norway is the state church of Norway, established after the Lutheran reformation in Denmark-Norway in 1536-1537 broke the ties to the Holy See. The church confesses the Lutheran Christian faith...
. It covers churches located in the counties of Hordaland
Hordaland
is a county in Norway, bordering Sogn og Fjordane, Buskerud, Telemark and Rogaland. Hordaland is the third largest county after Akershus and Oslo by population. The county administration is located in Bergen...
and Sogn og Fjordane
Sogn og Fjordane
is a county in Norway, bordering Møre og Romsdal, Oppland, Buskerud, and Hordaland. The county administration is in the town of Hermansverk in Leikanger municipality while the largest town is Førde....
. The cathedral city is Bergen. Bergen Cathedral
Bergen Cathedral
Bergen Cathedral is the seat of the Diocese of Bjørgvin. Located in the city centre of Bergen, Norway, the first recorded reference to it is dated 1181. It retains its ancient dedication to St Olaf ....
, formerly the Church of Saint Olaf, serves as the seat of the presiding Bishop. The bishop since 2008 has been Halvor Nordhaug
Halvor Nordhaug
Halvor Nordhaug is a Norwegian Lutheran bishop. He was appointed bishop of the Diocese of Bjørgvin in 2008. He is the son of bishop Ole Nordhaug and psalmist Liv Nordhaug.-References:...
.
History of the diocese since 1537
Bjorgvin diocese is one of the five original dioceses of Norway. The diocese was created on SeljeSelje
Selje is a municipality in the county of Sogn og Fjordane, Norway. It is located in the traditional district of Nordfjord. The village of Selje is the administrative center of Selje municipality...
in the traditional district
Districts of Norway
The country Norway is historically divided into a number of districts. Many districts have deep historical roots, and only partially coincide with today's administrative units of counties and municipalities. The districts are defined by geographical features, often valleys, mountain ranges, fjords,...
of Nordfjord
Nordfjord
Nordfjord is a fjord and a traditional district in the northern part of Sogn og Fjordane county in Western Norway. The district comprises the municipalities of Selje, Vågsøy, Bremanger, Eid, Gloppen, Hornindal, and Stryn. Nordfjord covers an area of and is home to a population of approximately...
during the 1000's. The seat was moved to Bergen in 1170 during the reign of King Magnus V. In 1537 the diocese consisted of the (modern) counties Hordaland
Hordaland
is a county in Norway, bordering Sogn og Fjordane, Buskerud, Telemark and Rogaland. Hordaland is the third largest county after Akershus and Oslo by population. The county administration is located in Bergen...
and Sogn og Fjordane
Sogn og Fjordane
is a county in Norway, bordering Møre og Romsdal, Oppland, Buskerud, and Hordaland. The county administration is in the town of Hermansverk in Leikanger municipality while the largest town is Førde....
(with exception of Eidfjord and Røldal). The region Sunnmøre
Sunnmøre
Sunnmøre is the southernmost traditional district of the western Norwegian county of Møre og Romsdal. Its main city is Ålesund. The region comprises the municipalities of Giske, Hareid, Herøy, Norddal, Sande, Skodje, Haram, Stordal, Stranda, Sula, Sykkylven, Ulstein, Vanylven, Volda, Ørskog,...
was transferred from the Diocese of Nidaros
Diocese of Nidaros
Nidaros is a diocese in the Lutheran Church of Norway. It covers Nord-Trøndelag and Sør-Trøndelag counties and its cathedral city is Trondheim, which houses the well-known Nidaros Cathedral. The diocese is divided into 12 deaneries . Finn Wagle was the bishop from 1991 to 2008...
to Bjørgvin in 1622. The parish Eidfjord
Eidfjord
Eidfjord is a municipality in the county of Hordaland, Norway. Eidfjord was separated from Ulvik May 1, 1891....
was transferred from the Diocese of Stavanger
Diocese of Stavanger
Stavanger is a diocese in the Church of Norway. It covers Rogaland. The cathedral city is Stavanger, and the bishop since 2009 is Erling Johan Pettersen.-History:...
to Bjørgvin in 1630. The parish Røldal
Røldal
Røldal is a former municipality in Hordaland county, Norway.The parish of Suldal had to be divided into two formannskapsdistrikt January 1, 1838 – this because the main part of the parish belonged to the county of Rogaland, while the annex Røldal belonged to the county of Hordaland...
was transferred from the Diocese of Kristiansand (see Diocese of Agder og Telemark
Diocese of Agder og Telemark
The Diocese of Agder og Telemark Agder og Telemark bispedømme) is a diocese of the Church of Norway, covering the counties of Telemark, Aust-Agder and Vest-Agder in Norway...
) to Bjørgvin in 1863. The region Sunnmøre was (together with Nordmøre
Nordmøre
Nordmøre is a traditional district in the Norwegian county of Møre og Romsdal. The area comprises the northern third of the county including the municipalities of Kristiansund, Averøy, Tingvoll, Surnadal, Rindal, Aure, Halsa, Eide, Sunndal, Gjemnes, and Smøla...
and Romsdal
Romsdal
Romsdal is the name of a traditional district in the Norwegian county Møre og Romsdal, located between Nordmøre and Sunnmøre. The district of Romsdal comprises Aukra, Fræna, Midsund, Molde, Nesset, Rauma, Sandøy, and Vestnes. It is named for the valley of Romsdalen, which covers part of Rauma.The...
) established as a diocese of its own (Diocese of Møre
Diocese of Møre
The Diocese of Møre is a diocese in the Church of Norway which geographically consists of Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. Its bishop and cathedral are located in the county administrative center of Molde...
) in 1983.
Origin of name
The Old NorseOld Norse
Old Norse is a North Germanic language that was spoken by inhabitants of Scandinavia and inhabitants of their overseas settlements during the Viking Age, until about 1300....
forms of the name for Bergen was Bjorgvin. The first element is berg or bjørg, which translates as mountain. The last element is vin, which translates as meadow.
Bishops
- ?-1535 Olaf Torkelson Last Catholic bishop
- 1536-1557 Gjeble Pedersssøn b. c. 1489 first Lutheran bishop
- 1557-1582 Jens Pedersen Schjelderup b. 1499
- 1583-1607 Anders Foss
- 1607-1615 Anders Mikkelsen Kolding
- 1616-1636 Nils Paaske b. 1568
- 1636-1649 Ludvig Hansen Munthe b. 1593
- 1649-1665 Jens Pedersen Schjelderup b. 1604
- 1665-1711 Nils Envildsen Randulf b. 1630
- 1711-1716 Nils Pedersen Smed b. 1655
- 1716-1723 Clemens Schmidt b. 1671
- 1723-1731 Marcus Müller b. 1684
- 1731-1747 Oluf Cosmussen Bornemann b. 1683
- 1747-1757 Erik Ludvigsen Pontoppidan b. 1698
- 1757-1762 Ole Tiedemann b. 1710
- 1762-1774 Frederik Arentz b. 1699
- 1774-1778 Eiler Hagerup b. 1718
- 1778-1779 Søren Frieldieb b. 1717
- 1779-1803 Ole IrgensOle Irgens (bishop)Ole Irgens was a bishop in the Church of Norway.He was born in Surendal to vicar Johannes Irgens. He enrolled as a student in 1741, but was examined two years later and was hired as chaplain under his father. He left in 1756 to become a ship's priest in Morocco, but citing health problems, he...
b. 1724 - 1803-1816 Johan Nordahl BrunJohan Nordahl BrunJohan Nordahl Brun was the poet, dramatist, bishop in Bergen , and politician who contributed significantly to the growth of National Romanticism in Norway, contributing to the growing national consciousness.He traveled to Copenhagen in 1767, where he passed his theological examinations...
b. 1745 - 1817-1822 Claus PavelsClaus PavelsClaus Pavels was a Norwegian priest and diarist. His diaries from 1812–1822 are an important source for cultural and biographical history.-Biography:...
b. 1769 - 1822-1848 Jacob NeumannJacob Neumann-Personal life:He was born in Strømsø as a son of Hans Neumann and Annechen Johanne Blom , and a grandson of Jakob Hansen Neumann. He was also a first cousin of Gustav Peter Blom and Gustava Kielland and a second cousin of Christian Blom....
b. 1772 - 1848-1857 Peder Christin Hersleb Kjerschow b. 1786
- 1858-1863 Jens Mahias Pram Kaurin b. 1804
- 1864-1880 Peter Hersleb Graah BirkelandPeter Hersleb Graah BirkelandPeter Hersleb Graah Birkeland was a Norwegian bishop.He was born in Borgund as the son of Lars Birkeland and Johanne Hellem Baade....
b. 1807 - 1881-? Fredrik Waldemar Hvoslef b. 1825
Other sources
- Knudsen, Jacob Frode (2001) Bergen Domkirke 700 år (Bergen)
- Lidén, Hans-Emil and Ellen Marie Magerøy (1990) Norges kirker : Bergen (Oslo: Gyldendal) ISBN 82-05-12368-3