Voska Church Photo: Voska Church

Vasska the Church, dedicated to St. Michael, is situated in the municipality of Voss, Norway, and was built in 1277. It is one of the oldest early Gothic churches of Norway.

Earlier on this Church stood a pagan temple. In 1023 year king Olaf the Saint visited Voss, then there was a baptism this area. In memory of this was erected a huge stone cross, located South of the present Church building.

This Church, the first in the whole commune, was first built of wood. In 1271 king Magnus the Lawmaker ordered to rebuild it in stone, which was executed in 1277. Wooden octagonal tower, built in the Middle ages, is the only building in Norway, made in a similar style. The correct form logs attached solely by means of an axe and a saw. Logs were subsequently fastened with wooden pegs, it is worth noting the strength and reliability of the whole structure.

Due to the outbreak of the reformation in Norway in 1536 medieval furniture of the Church were relatively small. The stone altar has been preserved from the 1277 year with the year of construction of the Church. The triptych above the altar belonged to the Coptic art, but in the XVII was rewritten in the Baroque style. The Central part, imitating the great painter Peter Paul Rubens, painted Norwegian Elias, Figenshu. The side panels of a triptych is not preserved, but presumably there was a picture of Christ in Gethsemane. From the presbytery there are stairs to the upper floor where there most likely was located choirs.

Chair decorated with images of the apostles, executed in the Renaissance style and was probably built after the reformation. In 1696-1698, ceilings were painted with angels and clouds. The walls of the chancel were decorated with images of Israeli patriarchs and kings, as well as scenes from the life of Jesus Christ.

Brass candelabra made in Holland, one in 1614, the other much later, but certainly not later than 1750. Above the choir is suspended from a carved angel holding a baptismal font. Before it was lowered in the sacrament of baptism, but in 1820 it was replaced by a simple stone font.

The stained glass Windows were donated to the Church in 1923 on the 900-th anniversary of the baptism of the whole area of Voss. Then was built and a new organ. In the sacristy of the Church kept the Bible of king Frederik II of the edition of 1589 in Danish.

In 1875-76, the Church was in very poor condition and needed restoration. The old furniture was replaced, the wooden parts of the building is painted yellow. However, the congregation did not like the new view of the Church, and in the early 20-ies of XX century were started the second restoration work, which lasted until 1953. In the course of these works were restored paintings on the ceilings, chair, cross partition, and have found ancient murals of the presbytery. Miraculously, the Church escaped the bombing during the Second world war, while a large part of the city was destroyed.

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Voska Church