Tautra Abbey
Encyclopedia
Tautra Abbey was a monastery
of Cistercian monks founded in the 13th century on the island of Tautra
in the Trondheimsfjord
. That abbey flourished and lasted until the 16th, when it was closed as part of Norway's acceptance of the Protestant Reformation
. At the end of the 20th century, a community of Trappistine nuns formed a new monastery . It is part of the municipality of Frosta
in Nord-Trøndelag
county, Norway
.
of Tautra or Tuterø Abbey was founded here. It was founded by monks from Lyse Abbey near Bergen
. The site was an attractive one, and the earlier foundation of Munkeby Abbey
seems to have been transferred here shortly after the foundation of this house. The abbey grew wealthy and powerful, and its abbot
s often played a major part in Norwegian politics. Tautra Abbey was dissolved during the Reformation in Scandinavia in 1537, its lands were passed to the Crown, but the sizeable ruins of the church are still to be seen.
on 23 May 2003. The new abbey was granted autonomy on 26 May 2006.
The seven Trappist nuns who established the monastery hope to be a point of contact and exchange between the Norwegian tradition and Cistercian spirituality.
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
of Cistercian monks founded in the 13th century on the island of Tautra
Tautra
Tautra is an island in the municipality of Frosta in Nord-Trøndelag county, Norway. It is located in the Trondheimsfjord, just north of the city of Trondheim. The island is connected to the rest of Frosta by a long causeway bridge....
in the Trondheimsfjord
Trondheimsfjord
The Trondheimsfjord , an inlet of the Norwegian Sea, is Norway's third longest fjord at long. It is located in the west central part of the country, and it stretches from Ørland in west to Steinkjer in north, passing the city of Trondheim on its way...
. That abbey flourished and lasted until the 16th, when it was closed as part of Norway's acceptance of the Protestant Reformation
Protestant Reformation
The Protestant Reformation was a 16th-century split within Western Christianity initiated by Martin Luther, John Calvin and other early Protestants. The efforts of the self-described "reformers", who objected to the doctrines, rituals and ecclesiastical structure of the Roman Catholic Church, led...
. At the end of the 20th century, a community of Trappistine nuns formed a new monastery . It is part of the municipality of Frosta
Frosta
Frosta is the smallest municipality in Nord-Trøndelag county, Norway. The administrative centre is the village of Frosta. The municipality is located in the middle of the Trondheimsfjord, on a peninsula just north of Trondheim...
in Nord-Trøndelag
Nord-Trøndelag
is a county constituting the northern part of Trøndelag in Norway. As of 2010, the county had 131,555 inhabitants, making it the country's fourth-least populated county. The largest municipalities are Stjørdal, Steinkjer—the county seat, Levanger, Namsos and Verdal, all with between 21,000 and...
county, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
.
First abbey
In 1207, the Cistercian monasteryMonastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
of Tautra or Tuterø Abbey was founded here. It was founded by monks from Lyse Abbey near Bergen
Bergen
Bergen is the second largest city in Norway with a population of as of , . Bergen is the administrative centre of Hordaland county. Greater Bergen or Bergen Metropolitan Area as defined by Statistics Norway, has a population of as of , ....
. The site was an attractive one, and the earlier foundation of Munkeby Abbey
Munkeby Abbey
Munkeby Abbey was a Cistercian monastery near the village of Okkenhaug in the municipality of Levanger in Nord-Trøndelag county, Norway. It is located about east of the town of Levanger. The name "Munkeby" in Norwegian means Place of the Monks....
seems to have been transferred here shortly after the foundation of this house. The abbey grew wealthy and powerful, and its abbot
Abbot
The word abbot, meaning father, is a title given to the head of a monastery in various traditions, including Christianity. The office may also be given as an honorary title to a clergyman who is not actually the head of a monastery...
s often played a major part in Norwegian politics. Tautra Abbey was dissolved during the Reformation in Scandinavia in 1537, its lands were passed to the Crown, but the sizeable ruins of the church are still to be seen.
Second abbey
The present Tautra Monastery is a newly founded Trappistine community, and it is the first permanent Cistercian settlement in Norway since the Reformation. It was founded in 1999, near the ruins of the medieval monastery. The foundation stone was laid by Queen Sonja of NorwayQueen Sonja of Norway
Queen Sonja of Norway is the wife of King Harald V of Norway.-Prior to marriage:Sonja was born in Oslo on 4 July 1937 as the daughter of clothing merchant Karl August Haraldsen and Dagny Ulrichsen .Queen Sonja grew up in the district of Vinderen in Oslo and completed her lower secondary schooling...
on 23 May 2003. The new abbey was granted autonomy on 26 May 2006.
The seven Trappist nuns who established the monastery hope to be a point of contact and exchange between the Norwegian tradition and Cistercian spirituality.