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The
Church of Our Saviour - Copenhagen |
Online
& Onsite Sightseeing - Copenhagen |
The
Church of Our Saviour - "Vor Frelsers Kirke" |
The
Church of Our Saviour's marble Altarpiece in heavy baroque style
from 1695. |
The
Church of Our Saviour - "Vor Frelsers Kirke"
The
Church of Our Saviour called - "Vor Frelsers Kirke"
- has one of the many towers rising above Copenhagen’s
skyline - and is famous among tourists and visitors for its
spiral tower that actually features an outdoor
staircase that leads up to the top - and for its magnificent
view over the city. The remarkable tower and spiral-shaped
gold spire construction is 90 meter high
with 400 steps to the top. |
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The
Church of Our Saviour |
The
Church of Our Saviour in 1749 was the parish church for citizens
of the new town quarters called Christianshavn - and has bee
it since for over 300 years. The golden spire was completed
in 1752 - with a golden globe and Christ on the top looking
over the city. |
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The
nave of The Church of Our Saviour in 1859 with the original
22 meter central vault and well decorated stucco ceilings
from 1696 - highlighted with the Danish national coat of arms
- and the symbol of the prominent Order of the Elephant. Exactly,
as it looks today. |
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King
Christian V and The Elephant Order
The foundation stone was laid in 1682 by
King Christian V (1646-1699 - ruled Denmark
and Norway 1670-1699) and nearly 14 years after in 1696,
the King inaugurated the first Danish church in Dutch baroque
style - with the King’s picture - initials and symbols
engraved at the entrance and on the ornamental church interior.
King Christian V was also the founder of the most prestigious
order in Denmark in 1693 - The Order
of the Elephant - which has influenced the decoration
of the Church of Our Saviour.
See: Frederiksborg
Castle
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The
Order of the Elephant |
Portrait
from 1680 of King Christian V, who inaugurated The Church
of Our Saviour in 1696, which was the first Danish church
built in Dutch baroque style. The King was also the founder
in 1693 of the most prestigious order in Denmark - The Order
of the Elephant. |
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Painting
of N.S.F Grundtvig from 1843, who was a priest at The Church
of Our Saviour for four years from 1822 to 1826 and a person
of great magnitude and influence in newer Danish history.
He left the church in protest, due to life given censorship. |
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N.F.S.
Grundtvig - and The Church of Our Saviour
The Danish Priest N.F.S. Grundtvig is a person
of great magnitude and influence in newer Danish history -
and was a pastor at The Church of Our Saviour for
four years from 1822-1826.
A free and democratic country
Grundtvig lived from 1783 to 1872 - and was besides being
a teacher - author - poet - philosopher - historian
- pastor - hymn writer even a politician.
He also reformed Christianity within the Danish Lutheran
Church - and developed The Folk High School
movement. Last but not least - Grundtvig put a clear
fingerprint on developing Denmark into a free and
democratic country - and was a warm supporter of
women's rights. During his time at Our Saviour Church
he was given life censorship - on behalf
of his many written theological works - and as a protest he
resigned from The Church of Our Saviour - from all
of his duties in 1826.
See: Grundtvig Church |
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Our
Saviour Church - 1855 |
Our
Saviour church in 1855 with the Little Mill in the back. Grundtvig
preached here 30 years earlier and had quite a loyal audience
at that time. Many Grundtvigians came from near and far to
attend his services. |
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Gilded Christ Figure on the Top |
Workers
in 1896 on the top of the tower installing the gilded flag-bearing
3 meter high Christ figure - looking over the city. The harbour
area of Copenhagen towards the Sound is at the back of the
tower. |
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The
Spiral Tower and Spire
The construction of the spire was first completed in 1752
- and consecrated by King Christian V’s great grand
son King Frederik V (1723-1766 - ruled Denmark
and Norway 1746-1766) - who took the walk on the outdoor spiral
shaped staircase to the top during the ceremony -
while the military canons saluted this opening event. Since
the inauguration of the golden spire in 1752
- it has been a very popular attraction and historic site
- and yearly more than 70,000 visitor’s
clime the 400 steps every year - with 150
steps in open air - to enjoy the amazing and fascinating
panorama scene over the city. |
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New
Carillon and Chime system - 1953 |
15
new bells were installed into the Carillon system in 1953
at The Church of Our Saviour - which makes it the largest
and most active concert carillon in North Europe. |
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More
than 80,000 people visit The Church of Our Saviour every year
- and clime the 400 steps up to the tower top to enjoy the
amazing panorama scene over the city. |
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The
Tower Bells and Carillon System
The tower of the church is equipped with a concert
carillon from 1928 - that was rebuilt
in 1980 - and consists of 48 bronze
carillon bells that have a musical range of four octaves -
which makes it the largest carillon and chime system in North
Europe. The largest bells weigh over 2,000 kilo
- and the smallest 10 kilo. Totally the Carillon
instrument weighs almost 12 tons - and chimes
every hour over Christianshavn with different hymn compositions.
The
Historic Organ
The huge pretentious organ with King Christian
V’s monogram - was built by Botzen Brothers
1698-1700 - and is mounted on the wall and
supported by two elephants. The organ has more than 4000
pipes with the original cymbelstern
tinkling in the background during a special part of a music
piece - and the entire instrument produces the sound that
was heard in the church for over 300 years
ago. The church arranges 15-20 concerts every
year together with musical church services on Sundays. The
last rebuilding of the organ was in 1965
- reusing older pipe work and this instrument is equipped
with 57 stops spread over 4 manuals
and pedals. The facade of the organ
is beautifully decorated by sculptor Christian Nerger in carved
wood with a bust of King Christian V in the centre.
Church Concerts
The church arranges 15-20 concerts every year together with
musical church services on Sundays.
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The
Baroque Altar from 1695 |
Many
dramatic figures and symbols of archangels made of pure
marble decorate the baroque Altar from 1695. The Altarpiece
was consecrated and taken into use in 1732. |
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The
Histoic Organ from 1698 |
The
impressive organ from 1698 - was rebuilt in 1965 - re-using
older pipe work - but the carved facade created by Christian
Nerger is from 1698 - with a bust of King Christian
V in the centre. |
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The
Church Interior from 1696
When one steps into the church building - the visitor will
be surrounded with historic pieces of artefacts that are over
300 years old. The church benches
are dated back to 1696 - and have seated
many prominent people - as well as local citizens. The beautiful
baroque marble Altar is from 1695
- with many dramatic symbols and figures of archangels made
of marble - while the rest of the Altar decoration is shaped
in wooden material. The Altarpiece was consecrated and taken
into use in 1732. On the Altar - many types
of candlesticks are used during services
- the oldest pair from 1670. The
font is also formed in marble with Biblical decorations
- and was handed over to the church in 1702.
The separate font-section is placed on the left side of the
church. Finally the pulpit dates back to
1773 - and is designed in neo-classical style
portraying the twelve apostles and the four
grand prophets. |
Location
The Church is located on the Isle of Amager
- and is the parish church for the population of the
Christianshavn district - both those who belongs to
the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Denmark and others
who live in the community. The entire church has room
for almost 1,200 churchgoers. |
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The
Church of Our Saviour
Address
Vor Frelsers Kirke
Sankt Annægade 29
1416 Copenhagen K
Metro
-Amagerbro Station
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| The
Church of Our Saviour
(Vor Frelser Kirke) |
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