St. Olav katolske domsogn, Trondheim: Memorial Plaque for the Crypt in Notre Dame de Rouen.

Stone mason Eva Stavsøien displays the memorial plaque which will mark the millenium of St. Olav's baptism. The stone plaque is a gift from Nidaros Cathedral's restoration (NDR) in cooperation with the Catholic Church and The Norwegian church. According to the Director of NDR, Steinar Bjerkestrand, the plaque will be unveiled during the ecumenical service in the Cathedral of Rouen.

[Translate to Engelsk:] Foto: Nidaros Domkirkes Restaureringsarbeider (NDR)

The plaque's positioning in the crypt is carefully planned, says p.Egil Mogstad from St. Olav parish in Trondheim. The crypt in the present cathedral is the closest we can get to St. Olav's baptism physically. This crypt was part of the earlier cathedral which was built by Archbishop Robert a few years after Olav's baptism. Olav himself has thus never stood in this crypt, but all those who knew him and who were present at his baptism have certainly done so.

There are remains of the original pre-Romanesque structure in the base of Robert's Romanesque cathedral and there are good reasons to believe that these structures were part of the baptistery where Olav was baptised, says p.Egil. These structural remains have at present been covered by a garden while one awaits financial support to undertake a complete archeological dig on the site. These remains are located towards the north-west, in the corner between the nave and the transept.

The text on the plaque reads:

ST.OLAV

OLAV HARALDSSON

ROI DE NORVÈGE DE 1015 À 1030

BAPTISÉ PAR L'ARCHEVEQUE ROBERT

EN OCTOBRE 1014 À ROUEN

JUBILÉ DU MILLÉNAIRE - 17 OCTOBRE 2014

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NORGES KONGE FRA 1015 TIL 1030

DØPT AV ERKEBISKOP ROBERT I ROUEN, OKTOBER 1014

1000-ÅRSJUBILEET - 17. OKTOBER 2014