900 Year Old Viking Church

[@butterfliesarefreetofly6964]

It is so awesome to see something so old, still standing. And the countryside is beautiful!!!

[@Randomjackass135]

*VARG HAS ENTERED THE CHAT*

[@gozzilla78]

Not quite, it’s been almost entirely rebuilt in late 19th century

[@Drumsticksmcgee]

Especially when most brick and mortar buildings around the world amazingly burnt in fires. 🤔

[@StrangePerson69]

@@DrumsticksmcgeeWhat

[@Boats_N_Hoez]

From wood…

[@jerrihadding2534]

My husband is Swedish. I am an American woman who grew up in Southern California. I have been married to my husband for 25 years, living with him in Sweden. His mother’s family were Norwegian. We visit Norway frequently and this church has overwhelmed me with awe each time we have been there. Thank you for visiting it!

[@RazPerignon]

Don’t Swedes dislike Norwegians?

[@useitwice]

​@@RazPerignonNo we don't dislike norwegians. We do have a lot of jokes about them tho! (and they of us)

[@erikness4231]

@@useitwice Goes both ways, but it's just joking. Scandinavian's are one.

[@useitwice]

@@erikness4231 Det var väl det jag sa?

[@rullvardi]

@@RazPerignon No, of course we don't! (Yes, we do)

[@Shernickyholmes221]

No pews. Christians back then stood as they worshipped. I attend a coptic orthodox church. We stand for nearly 3 hours for liturgy. We also use 3 languages, english, coptic and arabic. This church is so beautiful. Thanks Chris.

[@Grandizer8989]

You couldn’t pay me enough to do that. Do people faint from locking their legs?

[@iHaveTheDocuments]

​@@Grandizer8989 There's thousands of jobs that you have to stand for hours. Little old ladies at the cashier counter do it all the time

[@miketackabery7521]

​​@@Grandizer8989you NEVER lock your legs. They're always just slightly bent at the knees. And it's rare to stand in place for the entire service. It's far less disturbing to move around when everyone's standing than when everyone's sitting.

[@Exaltation-heliacal]

Christians back then just killed everyone over nothing but make believe. Still happens. You people are awful

[@josephconsoli4128]

It reminds of my father saying masses used to be in Latin, and, if you came late, the Priest would chastise you in front of everyone. Back then people obeyed and respected all the strictness. Today's nihilistic society will not. Churches would be empty.

[@Hogger280]

Amazing that a 1000 year old building stands strong without sagging or restoration.

[@HansenFT]

As a norwegian, these stavchurches have generally been restored a few times throughout the centuries. It's still impressive, though, I agree

[@NickScholl]

It was almost completely rebuilt between 1884-1891. They may have used a lot of the original material, but it's not the original building.

[@lundsweden]

My parents and us children (I was 18 months old!) visted this Church in July 1975. My Mother never forgot it, she was talking about it 40+ years later!

[@SlimshadyVictoria]

MY...GOD...That church is ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!! As i will never get to travel there due to age and health, THANK YOU for letting me enjoy the journey vicariously through you!❤❤

[@chosenideahandle]

There are almost 28 of them in Norway. We just happened upon one driving though, when I was a teenager. There were many more then, but some "black metal" kids/boneheads burned a bunch of them between 1992 and 1996.

[@scottrider641]

What a beautiful church in awesome countryside. 900 years old and in such immaculate condition. As usual, your videography is stunning. Thanks for bringing this to us, Chris

[@Viking88Power]

Most of the structure is not that old.

[@scottrider641]

@@Viking88Power Thanks I guess I misunderstood. Appreciate it

[@hamishanderson6738]

Clinker-built.

[@ElusiveMasquerade]

My family came to America in 1860. The place they are from is called Osvåg. It’s in an area called Etne. I’m very proud of my Viking ancestry.

[@SummerSun-sg3wf]

To me it looks similar in style to the wooden Puritan churches.

[@H3LGAS]

@@SummerSun-sg3wf nah this is a viking church

[@CrunchyMom88]

​@@H3LGASYou're also wrong. This was originally a Hof before Christianity flooded their culture.

[@ASENEBS281294]

I have been to Etne, very nice place!

[@H3LGAS]

@@CrunchyMom88 i am litterally a tour guide for this very church every summer. I know its history.

[@huldrrrr9486]

Another thing that's pretty neat are the intricate wood cravings seen at 2:51. They are almost identical to the wood carving you can see on Viking ships and other woodwork from those previous centuries. I always found it cool how these medieval churches retained some of it's pagan past in it's architecture!

[@rodricbr]

the church was almost completely rebuilt in the 19th century they might've used a lot of the original material, but it's not fully original

[@valentinr.dominguez2892]

If this church is 900 years old, it started as a Catholic Church. The narrator described a partial wall separating the altar from the section where the laity would congregate. That partial wall is similar to a rood screen that is still used by the Eastern Orthodox and had been used by the Roman Catholic Church up to a separate time. The altar area was treated similarly to the Holy of Holies in the ancient Jewish Temple in Jerusalem, where only certain religious were allowed.

[@magnusgranskau7487]

or maybe for women?

[@myriamickx7969]

No, it's for separating the people from the priest performing the Sacrement. As explained by the OP, it's still the case in the Orthodox rite and it used to exist also in the Catholic churches up to some point in the medieval period.

[@valentinr.dominguez2892]

@myriamickx7969 I am not sure why you stated "No" in response to my comment when everything that you wrote I had already stated in my comment.

[@ReaderOfThreads]

@@valentinr.dominguez2892bro, do you know better than the actual local historians associated with this church?

[@valentinr.dominguez2892]

@@ReaderOfThreads I am not contradicting anyone. In the actual video, the narrator states that he does not know what the structure represents.

[@gurinapsait8602]

Being from Norwegian decent I always wanted to see the inside of this church.. It is breath taking..

[@M0odyBlue]

What a beautiful country setting. That church is fascinating and beautifully preserved. I especially enjoyed seeing the carvings and the colored tapestries. Thank you for this. I probably never would have seen this in person!

[@user-dt3rj8qm3k]

Such beauty. What a lovely country. Great video as always. Thank you

[@nbenefiel]

I’ve been in 2 stave churches. They are absolutely incredible.

[@christinehoughton8591]

Me too, and agree they are incredible. I loved Norway such lovely people. The only thing I didn’t get to see was the aurora borealis (wrong time of year)

[@erawanpencil]

Seeing the nooks and crannies and little transitional spaces is probably the closest we can get to seeing what wooden interiors looked like in Northern Europe in the first millennium. I'm interested in the Migration Era, up to about 800, and there are precious few glimpses of what the magical halls of folklore and heroes looked like. Maybe it's wishful thinking, but seeing how well built this church was only a century or so after the Viking Age, I feel like the wooden halls all across Germanic-speaking Europe probably were also similarly made; this is in contrast to reconstructions or in film where anything from this time is depicted as bare-bones staves/logs with no embellishments and surrounded by grim mud lol. My hunch is there would have been all sorts of carvings, tapestries, and decorations on their buildings; when you see the care and thought put into the tiniest bits of jewelry from that time, I don't think it's a stretch.

[@lizpeterson6719]

It's so beautiful. So telling of the care that the original builder put into it. Thank you for showing us this place. History is awesome.

[@trishagail353]

What an amazing church!!! The architecture of some of these old churches is just beautiful. Thanks, Chris, for taking us along ❤

[@stepps511]

Wow, Chris! What an amazing video of an incredibly historic church building. I would venture a guess that, much like in medieval England, the interior of the churches there were vividy painted with bilblical scenes and told the story of the relationship between God, and Jesus, with the people, not unlike stained glass did. Thanks so much for this one!

[@munstersong9361]

Magnificent craftsmanship. A work of true devotion.

[@alkggkla5643]

I got to visit when i was in high school with my Danish grandmother. She took me to meet my family in Norway, Denmark, and Sweden. It was amazing trip!

[@kokonana4086]

This is incredible! How those logs stand the test of time is magnificent in themselves.

[@Susan-dk3ik]

Thank you for sharing your learnings . Not all can travel physically, yet your film and talk can take us to such a wonderful space. Safe travels Sir, May you keep enthused, happy and well.

[@masterofsnatch1645]

Amazing find, and thank you for taking us all to see this lucky church!! Thank you

[@ironcladranchandforge7292]

Amazing and beautiful!! Thanks for showing us this fantastic church!!

[@terry1637]

Being of Danish Viking heritage, amazing.

[@justinneilsonn2665]

My grandmother was from Norway. She died at 98 years old . I need to visit the homeland at some point

[@nancyheinemann5497]

Thank you. Many pictures of this church from the outside, but these are the first I have seen of the inside! Absolutely stunning!

[@jcsgodmother]

In Brooklyn NY The Church of the Visitation was built by shipbuilders who also made the vaulted ceiling as a haul of an upside down ship. Very interesting.

[@margaretflounders8510]

In England upturned boats were used too, as a church..Hence the name of the Nave....

[@jarls5890]

To this day, in Scandinavian languges (NO, SE, DE) the nave of the church is called "the ship" (as in, "nave" is not a word used at all).

[@elizabetholdenwikestad]

This church is located in Vik i Sogn, Norway which is where I live. This village is located on the longest and deepest fjord in Norway, called Sognefjorden. We have so many beautiful things to see here, including the stone Church built in the 1100s.

[@Carolbearce]

These churches are amazing to see. Thank you for showing this to us.

[@cindycreateforlife]

Amazing architecture, churches are where the skills of shipbuilders came to life, with much ornamentation and unique features. Thank you for filming the interior and sharing something that most of us will never experience. 🇨🇦

[@davidh328]

What a gorgeous place 😮

[@chrisblack8390]

That was something! So old an beautiful! Thank you

[@zacharytaylor6032]

I've always wondered why some of their churches are black. Your videos never disappoint me. Thank you.. You explore things I've always wanted to see. I'm disabled and getting old so keep exploring for me. 😀

[@rayerscarpensael2300]

They were black as those viking were into gothic death metal.

[@anthonyaer8303]

Because pine tar is naturally black. The color is natural.

[@idiotidiot5821]

​@@anthonyaer8303there are obvious burn marks in sections too

[@Sewtangle]

My brother got married in a replica of this church in S. Dakota. I have never seen the original, so thank you for the video!

[@lisafrench5470]

Really enjoying joining you on your travels. The feeling of wonder is infectious Chris. You are open and respectful wherever you venture. I really enjoy your channels, thank you for all you do! Your a guy with a gift 😊

[@__seeker__]

As a minister and amateur historian, this fascinates me to no end. I’m in awe. Thank you.

[@Lynnthomason45]

Hi. Great to see such historic architecture. The area between the alter and the congregation is called the “rood screen”. I found out after questioning one in an old church in England. Thanks for the video.

[@greenbriar07]

What a beautiful church, thanks for taking us on a walk through the interior! There used to be a replica stave church at Blue Mounds in Wisconsin, which was dismantled a few years ago and shipped back home to Orkdal in Norway, and reassembled there. I'd love to visit it again some day :)

[@nbenefiel]

I used to love Little Norway. I’m sorry it is gone.

[@lilafeldman8630]

I've seen the one near Fargo, in Minnesota.

[@hugodesrosiers-plaisance3156]

I'm speaking as a woodworker. Those churches are INSANE. Like, I have NO WORDS. Everything about them leaves me speechless. The esthetics, the joinery, the care, everything. They are living breathing works of Art. Absolutely mind-numbing. ❤

[@stuntgirl56-therachelvande24]

Reminds me of The 13th Warrior. Also the movie The Pathfinder. Great Viking jaunts with surprising events to ponder, thanks for the great Church story

[@carries6427]

Beautifully maintained! Thank you for showing it

[@karenmia6696]

My goodness. I could sit in this church for hours and hours...If not days. Traveling somewhere like this is my idea of a perfect vacation ❤. I now have a new destination!!!

[@lgannawa]

This incredible to see, thank you for sharing it with the rest of us on the interwebs!

[@tamaramcelhannon9805]

This is the most authentic walkthrough I’ve seen. I will be showing this to my class tomorrow and watching out for your other videos. Thank you!

[@IBLV2DOU]

My Dad immigrated from Voss Norway. He had many photos of a Stave church, may be the same one. Our family has been in the area for hundreds of years. I’ve never been there but it is wonderful to see in a video. Thank you for sharing. It is beautiful.

[@NorwegianShedhunter]

This is "only" a mountain pass away from Voss😊

[@avalondreaming1433]

I wondered how a wooden building could stand that long. Thank you for showing this incredible sight.

[@valariebedard2164]

WoW! That art work is amazing to see! Thanks for sharing that.. you're awesome! 😊

[@gabrieli4734]

Now this was very interesting. Thank you for sharing your unique discovery....

[@karenbodding9689]

I went to Hopperstad in 2015. It is beautiful on the inside and out. Thank you for taking me there again with your video.

[@cya2163]

how crazy beautiful is that??!! I would never have believed that wood that old would have survived without seeing it!!! Thank you so very much for sharing...that was very kind of you...God bless...

[@sallykohorst8803]

Very lovely church thanks for sharing. You always have amazing stuff to show.

[@janthieme3024]

So happy to come across your video an tour. Would never be able to see such beauty with out you taking us along. Thank you. 😊

[@randomvintagefilm273]

Thank you so much for filming this! What an unusual place.

[@voodookitchenmama]

Amazing to see this building still standing. Thanks for sharing with us.

[@JaimieJo]

Beautiful! I hope to visit Norway and Sweden before I die.

[@Haven2U]

Wow! What a rustic church building. Amazing workmanship.

[@lorrie8176]

I admire all you get see and do, thanks for sharing with us. I would never go to another country. 💯👍

[@fd9987]

Fascinating! I’m so grateful you posted this video.

[@nkley1]

This is amazing., along with the surrounding views. Heavenly.

[@jeansonnichsen7807]

Thank you for your wisdom✨

[@TheAlexis4444]

Amazingly beautiful scenery and a very cold dark church, typical for a cold country.

[@karennadeau8251]

Wow, so beautiful. I love my Viking blood.

[@Flat_Earth_Sophia]

You just contradicted yourself, fool.

[@terrioestreich4007]

My family comes from Norway and I am so interested in things like this!! Thank you for sharing your experiences!!

[@velvetbees]

This has been cared for. It is beautiful.They probably had that partition with furs or curtains hanging in it to create a place for crying infants so mama could take care of them. And to create a dead air space to insulate the sanctuary.

[@Cinoszzs]

I've been there, crazy how its so calm!

[@sheilaathay2034]

Thanks! I got to see most of the stavekjirke when I was there in 89. I don't think I saw that one. I remember the smell of them. They are so unique. Like stepping back in time.❤

[@bestcrossroad]

So beautiful! Thanks for showing us!

[@pinkpineapples8645]

I’m obsessed with this content!!! Great job as always!

[@andytaylor5476]

Fantastic! How wonderful that people are allowed access to the past so up close!

[@psychedelicpython]

In the pictures on the tapestry I see one of an angel and Mary @4:56 in the upper right (with the white around it), and in the traditional Catholic religion (and the modern Catholic religion as well) that scene is called the Annunciation because the Archangel Gabriel appeared to Mary to announce that God has found favor with her and wants her to be the mother of Jesus. Beautiful old church!

[@thesparkypilot]

Beautiful! I got to visit the one in Oslo ‘s outdoor museum and this makes me want to go back to see it or another one again. I’ll never forget the smell of the old wood and pitch and how it was dark inside but very ornate. A thing of beauty. Thank you for sharing!

[@DakotaCelt1]

Beautiful church. There is a replica of the Hopperstad Stave church in Moorhead, MN

[@michaelmcenery7515]

Chris, you always take us to the most beautifull and interesting places. What place in the world is on your bucket list? safe travels my friend

[@aaronwelch6790]

Carpenter from Australia here - that is amazing , blow away mind . Unbelievable

[@tressydoll68]

Wow! So amazing, and beautiful. 🙏🏼♥️

[@judybrady860]

You are so lucky to be able to visit the church. I’m so jealous too!

[@KittensWithHelmets]

Thank you for taking the time to share 😊 Such wonderfully preserved history.

[@adamhawkins3036]

That must be a wow feelin standin in a church that old.. you can just imagine what a service would look n sound like

[@cbear9263]

Wow! That is so incredible! Thank you so much for sharing. I really enjoyed it. ❤

[@deniseroe5891]

Amazing. Beautiful place and setting. Wonderful it survived.

[@rickysig]

Beautiful architecture especially without the tools and equipment of today, and amazing how the wood has withstood the elements all these years. If you’ve ever had a wooden deck on your house think of how often you had to replace a board that rotted.

[@jarls5890]

If you can keep the wood dry (hench the black pitch covering everything) - wood can last for a very long time in the cold climate. There are no termites in Scandinavia. You have some other insects that can attack wood (ants and some beetles) but don't like the pitch.

[@blazingstar9638]

Absolutely incredible

[@dianafarmer5445]

Beautiful. Protect it as much as possible.

[@CplOreo]

Fascinating.

[@miketackabery7521]

That wall between the altar and nave is an iconistasis. There in the North Catholic (which this church was until Lutheranism took hold) and Orthodox practices were still pretty close in the eleven hundreds. Thanks for the video!

[@valentinr.dominguez2892]

Similar to rood screens.

[@YoutubeExplorer.J]

Thanks for another great 1 Instinct. It would have been cool to see one or two of the oldest graves there.

[@Chr196]

Thank you for sharing this many blessings be upon you Spiritual and Physical in Jesus name amen

[@staceyt6466]

We have one of these churches in rapid city SD it is beautiful but would love to see this one!! 900 years old is incredible

[@Olaf7465]

glad for å ha deg i Norge min venn jeg er en fan

[@Silentrelm19]

They got the aesthetic down for sure. That looks bad ass.

[@deniseeulert2503]

Twelve years ago I entered a gingerbread building contest here in town and built a stavekirche. It was not a copy of any particular church building, but it had elements from several. I got first place in the professional category. Every time I make a gingerbread building I gain more respect for real architects. It's hard to make a model accurate, how hard is it to design a full size building?

[@michaelgillespie502]

incredible! thank you

[@r.sharpe1206]

Very similar to the one in heddal . It has a great visitor centre with lots on display. Very interesting. And as usual awesome views where ever you look.👍🇳🇴

[@misstoni3901]

Beautiful church. I love both of your channels. Keep up the awesome work.

[@virgobutterfly1680]

Stunning! It looks like it is in good condition too! ❤

[@LorenOneal]

I visited an old Church in Malmo Sweden, in 2000 had been standing since 1060. Just around the square from my Hotel the Radisson.. also had just crossed the new bridge at the time,❤ from the Netherlands

[@oceanViews64]

Such an awesome video thank you for sharing it with us and thank you for not playing blasting music

[@icouldjustscream]

Very beautiful. Thank you.

[@pinchebruha405]

My favorite part of visiting anywhere is the architecture, churches of course because they were the most commissioned buildings ever ❤