Archive for the ‘Norway’ Category
Consecration of King Harald
Upon Olav’s death in 1991, his successor King Harald V and his wife Queen Sonja expressed their wish to be consecrated as Olav had been. Accordingly, on 23 June 1991, they attended a service of consecration at Nidaros Cathedral, presided over by Bishop Finn Wagle, assisted by the Bishop of Oslo, Andreas Aarflot. The Crown Jewels of Norway had been placed inside the cathedral prior to the ceremony, with the king’s and queen’s crowns arranged each on their respective side of the high altar.
On entering the cathedral the king and queen were met by bishops Wagle and Aarflot and Bishop Wagle greeted them with the words: “May the Lord bless your going in and your coming out now and for evermore.” The king and queen proceeded through the nave and seated themselves on the 1818 coronation thrones. After scriptural readings and a sermon, King Harald came forward and knelt before the high altar, where Bishop Wagle put his right hand on his head and said the consecration prayer, including the petition, “Bless King Harald the Fifth, strengthen him and in the exercise of his solemn responsibilities.” Queen Sonja then came forward and knelt beside the king and Bishop Wagle lay his right hand on her head and said a prayer asking God to help her use her talents to benefit the Norwegian people and land. The bishop then said a prayer over both the kneeling king and queen and turned and knelt at the high altar as the Royal Anthem was sung. He then rose and turned to pronounce a concluding blessing on the kneeling monarchs: “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you. Amen.” The Lord Chamberlain then came forward, as the king and queen rose and turned, and conducted them back to their coronation thrones
