Østermarie
Encyclopedia
Østermarie is a village on the Danish
island of Bornholm
, 8 km (5 mi) west of Svaneke
. Founded ca. 1880, its old church, now a ruin, dates back to the 12th century. The population as of 1 January 2011 is 485.
s Boldgade" songwriter, and "Seamus Heaney
Stræde" celebrating the Irish Nobel Prize-winning poet. In 2010, the Danish harpsichordist Lars Ulrik Mortensen
received the award.
church was in danger of collapsing and had to be demolished. Soon afterwards, it was decided that the entire church should be demolished but when it was found that the building was of considerable architectural interest the work was stopped in 1890. At that time, the south wall and the apsis
were still intact. It was discovered that the nave contained two barrel vault
s as a ceiling and two pillars at the centre of the church. The pillars supported three arches along the length of the church. Even more interesting was the construction of the chancel
where there is a small chamber just above the vault which relieves the pressure on the roof by some 20 tons. The roof itself was covered with Nexø sandstone. Stone roof coverings are quite unusual in Scandinavia, only being found in a few churches in Scania
, although the technique was quite common in Ireland
. The construction of the chancel arch is also unusual as the centrepiece is a wooden block rather than a stone. The old church is now a listed building and has been maintained by the National Museum of Denmark
.
. Built in the Romanesque style, it consists of a tower, nave, chancel and apsis together with two cross pieces. The outer wall is granite from the nearby Paradis quarry.
The rear wall of the altar is topped by seven candles in a seven-armed candlestick. The limestone font (ca. 1250), in late Romanesque style, comes from Gothland. The pulpit has four carved panels in oak from 1593. In the northern cross arm, there is an epitaph to Jens Kofoed, popularly credited with the liberation of Bornholm from the Swedes in 1658. The cross below the chancel arch, added during the church's restoration by the architect Rolf Graae in 1964, is the work of Paul Høm
, a local artist.
Bornholms Musik Festival arranges concerts in the church with Emma Kirkby and Lars Ulrik Mortensen.
and the late Middle Ages
.
One runestone, which is designated as DR 391 in the Rundata
catalogue, stands in the churchyard near the old church but was originally found in its tower. It has a runic inscription that has been transcribed into Old Norse
as: Barni/Biarni ok Sibbi ok [T]ofi þeR resþu sten æftiR Kætil, faþur sin. Kristr hialpi hans siol or: "Barni/Biarni and Sibbi and Tófi they raised (the) stone in memory of Ketill, their father, May Christ help his soul." A similar stone, DR 392, was found in the old porch wall and now stands between the old and new churches. Its inscription was trascribed as, Barni/Biarni ok Tofi ok Asgotr letu resa sten æftiR Sibba, broþur sin. Kristr sæl hialpi. This translates as: "Barni/Biarni and Tófi and Ásgautr had (the) stone raised in memory of Sibbi, their brother. May Christ help (his) soul." This stone also has an ornamental drawing on the reverse side depicting a propeller-shaped cross. A third stone, DR 394, was found slightly buried in the churchyard and has also been placed in the area between the two churches. Its inscription was trancribed as, Øþi ok Swen ok ØþgiR resþu sten æftiR Gunulf, broþur sin goþan, ok æftiR Gunhild, moþur. In English this reads as, "Auði and Sveinn and Auðgeirr raised the stone in memory of Gunnulfr, their good brother, and in memory of Gunnhildr, (their) mother."
Two additional runestones are located in the city. The inscription on DR 390 is transcribed as, Bofi let resa æftiR Økel/Øþkel, faþur sin goþan. Kristr hialpi sialu. The English translation is "Bófi had (the stone) raised in memory of Eykell/Auðkell, his good father. May Christ help (his) soul." The inscription on DR 393 is transcribed as Bofi hoggwa let sten at Þyþkel/Þorkel, which translates as "Bófi had the stone cut in memory of Þjóðkell/Þorkell."
with its steep streets winding down to the bustling town centre and fishing harbour below, and from Svaneke
, famous for its well preserved half-timbered houses and the fine mansions (now hotels) which line the harbour.
One mile north of Østermarie lies the first Rinzai Zen Buddhist Monastery in Scandinavia
, Egely Monastery
.
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
island of Bornholm
Bornholm
Bornholm is a Danish island in the Baltic Sea located to the east of the rest of Denmark, the south of Sweden, and the north of Poland. The main industries on the island include fishing, arts and crafts like glass making and pottery using locally worked clay, and dairy farming. Tourism is...
, 8 km (5 mi) west of Svaneke
Svaneke
Svaneke is a small town on the eastern coast of the Baltic island of Bornholm, Denmark....
. Founded ca. 1880, its old church, now a ruin, dates back to the 12th century. The population as of 1 January 2011 is 485.
History
Although St Mary's Church (Sct. Maria Kirke) was built in the second half of the 12th century, today's village has its origins around 1880 when the first dwellings were built. As the village became more prosperous, a new church was built in 1891. A house named Godthåb (1883) served as the local post office. Godthåb, used on the post-office stamp, was the first official name of the locality. When the railway station was opened in 1916, the name was changed to Østermarie. In fact, the original name of the parish was Markersen, short for Mary's Church Parish, but it later became Østermarie (Eastern Mary) to distinguish it from Vestermarie, the western St Mary's Parish on the island. Buses now replace the railway service which was discontinued in 1952.Østermarie today
In area, Østermarie is the largest parish on Bornholm. While the population in rural villages has generally declined, the number of inhabitants in Østermarie has been fairly stable in recent years, thanks in part to its lively retail trade. Each year, the KulturBornholm association, based in Østermarie, selects an Artist of Honour who has a street named after him. Recent winners have given their names to Aage Haugland's Gyde (Lane) in honour of the Wagner bass, "Benny AndersenBenny Andersen
Benny Andersen , is a Danish song-writer, poet, author, composer and pianist. He is the most widely read, most often sung and best loved of modern Danish lyricists, often associated with his collaboration with Povl Dissing. His collected poems have sold over 100,000 copies...
s Boldgade" songwriter, and "Seamus Heaney
Seamus Heaney
Seamus Heaney is an Irish poet, writer and lecturer. He lives in Dublin. Heaney has received the Nobel Prize in Literature , the Golden Wreath of Poetry , T. S. Eliot Prize and two Whitbread prizes...
Stræde" celebrating the Irish Nobel Prize-winning poet. In 2010, the Danish harpsichordist Lars Ulrik Mortensen
Lars Ulrik Mortensen
Lars Ulrik Mortensen is a Danish harpsichordist and conductor.He studied with Karen Englund and Jesper Bøje Christensen at The Royal Danish Academy of Music in Copenhagen and with Trevor Pinnock in London....
received the award.
The old church
In 1885, the tower of the old RomanesqueRomanesque architecture
Romanesque architecture is an architectural style of Medieval Europe characterised by semi-circular arches. There is no consensus for the beginning date of the Romanesque architecture, with proposals ranging from the 6th to the 10th century. It developed in the 12th century into the Gothic style,...
church was in danger of collapsing and had to be demolished. Soon afterwards, it was decided that the entire church should be demolished but when it was found that the building was of considerable architectural interest the work was stopped in 1890. At that time, the south wall and the apsis
Apsis
An apsis , plural apsides , is the point of greatest or least distance of a body from one of the foci of its elliptical orbit. In modern celestial mechanics this focus is also the center of attraction, which is usually the center of mass of the system...
were still intact. It was discovered that the nave contained two barrel vault
Barrel vault
A barrel vault, also known as a tunnel vault or a wagon vault, is an architectural element formed by the extrusion of a single curve along a given distance. The curves are typically circular in shape, lending a semi-cylindrical appearance to the total design...
s as a ceiling and two pillars at the centre of the church. The pillars supported three arches along the length of the church. Even more interesting was the construction of the chancel
Chancel
In church architecture, the chancel is the space around the altar in the sanctuary at the liturgical east end of a traditional Christian church building...
where there is a small chamber just above the vault which relieves the pressure on the roof by some 20 tons. The roof itself was covered with Nexø sandstone. Stone roof coverings are quite unusual in Scandinavia, only being found in a few churches in Scania
Scania
Scania is the southernmost of the 25 traditional non-administrative provinces of Sweden, constituting a peninsula on the southern tip of the Scandinavian peninsula, and some adjacent islands. The modern administrative subdivision Skåne County is almost, but not totally, congruent with the...
, although the technique was quite common in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. The construction of the chancel arch is also unusual as the centrepiece is a wooden block rather than a stone. The old church is now a listed building and has been maintained by the National Museum of Denmark
National Museum of Denmark
The National Museum of Denmark in Copenhagen is Denmark’s largest museum of cultural history, comprising the histories of Danish and foreign cultures, alike. The museum's main domicile is located a short distance from Strøget at the center of Copenhagen. It contains exhibits from around the world,...
.
The new church
The new church was built in 1891 on the place where the old church tower once stood. The architect was Andreas Clemmensen who was involved in the design of Christiansborg PalaceChristiansborg Palace
Christiansborg Palace, , on the islet of Slotsholmen in central Copenhagen, is the seat of the Folketing , the Danish Prime Minister's Office and the Danish Supreme Court...
. Built in the Romanesque style, it consists of a tower, nave, chancel and apsis together with two cross pieces. The outer wall is granite from the nearby Paradis quarry.
The rear wall of the altar is topped by seven candles in a seven-armed candlestick. The limestone font (ca. 1250), in late Romanesque style, comes from Gothland. The pulpit has four carved panels in oak from 1593. In the northern cross arm, there is an epitaph to Jens Kofoed, popularly credited with the liberation of Bornholm from the Swedes in 1658. The cross below the chancel arch, added during the church's restoration by the architect Rolf Graae in 1964, is the work of Paul Høm
Paul Høm
Paul Briegel Høm was a Danish artist who is remembered for his religious paintings and brightly coloured stained glass windows which decorate a number of Danish churches.-Biography:...
, a local artist.
Bornholms Musik Festival arranges concerts in the church with Emma Kirkby and Lars Ulrik Mortensen.
Runestones
A number of stones with runic inscriptions were discovered in the ruins of the old church where they had been used as building materials. They are dated 1075-1125, the transitional period between the Viking EraViking Age
Viking Age is the term for the period in European history, especially Northern European and Scandinavian history, spanning the late 8th to 11th centuries. Scandinavian Vikings explored Europe by its oceans and rivers through trade and warfare. The Vikings also reached Iceland, Greenland,...
and the late Middle Ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
.
One runestone, which is designated as DR 391 in the Rundata
Rundata
The Scandinavian Runic-text Data Base is a project involving the creation and maintenance of a database of runic inscriptions. The project's goal is to comprehensively catalog runestones in a machine-readable way for future research...
catalogue, stands in the churchyard near the old church but was originally found in its tower. It has a runic inscription that has been transcribed into Old Norse
Old Norse
Old Norse is a North Germanic language that was spoken by inhabitants of Scandinavia and inhabitants of their overseas settlements during the Viking Age, until about 1300....
as: Barni/Biarni ok Sibbi ok [T]ofi þeR resþu sten æftiR Kætil, faþur sin. Kristr hialpi hans siol or: "Barni/Biarni and Sibbi and Tófi they raised (the) stone in memory of Ketill, their father, May Christ help his soul." A similar stone, DR 392, was found in the old porch wall and now stands between the old and new churches. Its inscription was trascribed as, Barni/Biarni ok Tofi ok Asgotr letu resa sten æftiR Sibba, broþur sin. Kristr sæl hialpi. This translates as: "Barni/Biarni and Tófi and Ásgautr had (the) stone raised in memory of Sibbi, their brother. May Christ help (his) soul." This stone also has an ornamental drawing on the reverse side depicting a propeller-shaped cross. A third stone, DR 394, was found slightly buried in the churchyard and has also been placed in the area between the two churches. Its inscription was trancribed as, Øþi ok Swen ok ØþgiR resþu sten æftiR Gunulf, broþur sin goþan, ok æftiR Gunhild, moþur. In English this reads as, "Auði and Sveinn and Auðgeirr raised the stone in memory of Gunnulfr, their good brother, and in memory of Gunnhildr, (their) mother."
Two additional runestones are located in the city. The inscription on DR 390 is transcribed as, Bofi let resa æftiR Økel/Øþkel, faþur sin goþan. Kristr hialpi sialu. The English translation is "Bófi had (the stone) raised in memory of Eykell/Auðkell, his good father. May Christ help (his) soul." The inscription on DR 393 is transcribed as Bofi hoggwa let sten at Þyþkel/Þorkel, which translates as "Bófi had the stone cut in memory of Þjóðkell/Þorkell."
Neighbouring places of interest
Østermarie is only 15 minutes' drive from GudhjemGudhjem
Gudhjem is a small town and fishing port on the northern coast of the Baltic island of Bornholm, Denmark. Its population is 724 ....
with its steep streets winding down to the bustling town centre and fishing harbour below, and from Svaneke
Svaneke
Svaneke is a small town on the eastern coast of the Baltic island of Bornholm, Denmark....
, famous for its well preserved half-timbered houses and the fine mansions (now hotels) which line the harbour.
One mile north of Østermarie lies the first Rinzai Zen Buddhist Monastery in Scandinavia
Scandinavia
Scandinavia is a cultural, historical and ethno-linguistic region in northern Europe that includes the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, characterized by their common ethno-cultural heritage and language. Modern Norway and Sweden proper are situated on the Scandinavian Peninsula,...
, Egely Monastery
Egely Monastery
Egely Monastery - Taikyo-ji is a Buddhist monastery, formerly in the Rinzai Zen tradition, founded by Denko John Mortensen on the Danish island of Bornholm in 2007...
.
