On Palm Sunday we commemorate Jesus' arrival in Jerusalem

The Palm Sunday celebration has its roots in a folk tradition which arose around year 600, where the gospel was dramatised by bringing branches to church and calling out Hosiannah. Later this developed into a procession. In this day’s liturgy the branches are blessed, and the following year they are burned to provide the ash which is used to mark the ash cross on our forehead on Ash Wednesday.

Entry into Jerusalem by Jean-Hippolyte Flandrin 1809-1864

The procession is our homage to Christ the King. We accompany him, represented by our priest, with branches in our hands as a symbol of our love and loyalty.

(Palm Sunday in St. Olav Cathedral: please see "Coming events" in the right column on the front page)