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2015/05/29

The Relay Continues through Denmark

Ernst and Hanna Hansen receives the pilgrim staff
and diary from Stein Thue in Emmersbæk kirke, Hirtshals.
Photo by Elisabet-Krstin Sollie
It has been quite an experience to follow the pilgrim relay from Hamar to Oslo and through Vestfold to Larvik. We  have walked through beautiful landscapes and seen spring unfolding all around us.
Giovanni (see previous posts) completed the whole distance from Trondheim to Oslo (22 April - 21 May). He deserves many thanks and congratuations! So do our hosts, guides and fellow pilgrims. Your friendly help and generous hospitality makes our walk possible. 

Here's a copy of our Pilgrim Credential for Norway
The number of participants in Norway has varied from three to 25 on some stages. There were three partcipants on the ferry across Skagerak May 29. 



The Danish pilgrims, here represented by Ernst and Hanna Hansen (above photo), received the pilgrim staff and diary May 29 in Emmersbæk kirke, Hirtshals. A group of 12 pilgrims will walk from Hirtshals to Viborg (30 May - 7 June). Another group will continue from Viborg onwards.Buen Camino Denmark :-)
You can find out out more at http://pilgrim-nordjylland.dk/pilgrimsvandring
Messages and photos from pilgrims are welcome on this blog. Please send entries and photos to stein.thue(at)gmail.com. Thank you.


2015/05/04

On the Pilgrim Road through Gudbrandsdalen

Our blog editor joined the relay from Hamar to Larvik, and for convenience's sake we chose to publish posts on our Facebook Page during the second half of May. That explains the lack of updates on this blog. You can follow us on Facebook to find the missing posts.


From Tretten via Øyer to Lillehammer 9-10 May

Giovanni og Jahn ved starten fra Nermo hotell i Øyer 10. mai. Foto: Hans Enger 
Giovanni, Jahn and Hans in front of Lillehammer kirke May 10.
All three pilgrims are named after none other than John the Baptist.
Photo by Tone Stræte

From Harpefoss to Ringebu 8 May

Vidar and Giovanni ready to go  
Our unstoppable pilgrims Vidar and Giovanni are on their way from Harpefoss to Ringebu. The sun is bleak, the temperature is 6 degrees Celsius, but the pilgrims are in high spirits, in spite of looking somewhat serious on the photo. Today's stage is 25 km. Buon cammino pellegrini!


From Nord-Sel to Sjoa 5 May

Jørundgård 5 May: Hans Morten gives the staff to Vidar. Buen Camino pilgrims!

From Dovre to Engelshus 4 May

Hans Morten, Giovanni og Einar på Engelshus
This blog post is in Norwegian, an exception to the rule, sorry. The next entry will be in English. :-)
Giovanni har vært med Hans-Jacob Dahl (leder ved Pilegrimssenter Dovrefjell) på et stort bunadsbryllup i Eysteinkyrkja, se gjerne foto i albumet til høyre. Deretter gikk ferden over fjellet ned til Dovre. Det var ikke mulig å gå pilegrimsleden fra Hjerkinn via Fokstugu til Engelshus på denne årstida, derfor ble det pragmatisk transport til Dovre med innkvartering på Engelshus.

Søndag dro de brave pilegrimene opp i dalsiden ovenfor Budsjord og gikk derfra ned til Dovre kirke hvor de deltok i gudstjenesten med påfølgende kirkekaffe, omvisninger mm. Felles middag på Engelshus.

Mandag morgen 4. mai kom Hans Morten Løvrød og Einar Vegge til Engelshus. Etter kaffe og omvisning med vertskapet, startet vandringen til Jørundgård kl. 11. Lucina hilser og takker for turen,
hun har som planlagt reist hjem til Italia, men vil nok holde et øye med Giovanni og vandringen videre.

Braving the Elements through Norway...


Giovanni, Einar and Hans Morten are currently crossing the Dovre mountain area, here on the way from Dovre to Nord-Sel 4 May. 

Giovanni and Hans Morten on the way from Dovre to Sel 4 May


From Ryphusan to Hjerkinn 30 April


Lucina, Giovanni and Erik arrived at Hjerkinn safe and sound 30 April. They are now enjoying a well deserved day of rest.
The walk over Dovrefjell begins Saturday.

Giovanni & Lucina on the top of Hjerkinnhø, 1,220 metres above sea level.
The milestone says ‘208 km to Nidaros’. Brava Italia!





From Oppdal toward Ryphusan 29 April


Pupils from Drivdalen skole joined pilgrims from Oppdal on the way to Ryphusan

From Hæverstølen to Oppdal 28 April


Students from Tågvollan skole carried the pilgrim staff from
Hæverstølen toward Oppdal. - Go well, said Børge Dahle as they set out.



Altertavlen i Oppdal kirke

 From Segard Hoel to Meslo 26 April

Stavbærer Joar Fjellstad fra Rennebu kirke. Gammelbua med lokale
pilegrimsv
erter i bakgrunnen. Klikk for å forstørre.

Håkon Gullvåg's altarpiece in Rennebu kirke

From Svorkmo to Segard Hoel 25 April

Stavbærer Else Kristensen med en flokk brave pilegrimer på vei til Segard Hoel


 

From Skaun to Svorkmo 24 April

Ordfører Jon P. Husbys dagboknotat fra 24. april
Ordfører på vei over Skaunakjølen


Interior from Skaun kirke (12th c). Notice the icon to the right


The Mayor of Skaun Jon P. Husby receives the pilgrim staff from Torgeir

From Sundet to Skaun 23 April

Giovanni, Lucina and Torgeir heading for Skaun



Torgeir shows the way

2015/05/03

Det var en gang en pilegrim…

Our Hallmark
Hilsen til pilegrimene ved stafettens start 22. april 2015:
I dag begynner eventyret om pilegrimene som begir seg avsted fra Nidaros for å vandre hele veien til Roma og Jerusalem. 175 dagsetapper og 3 000 kilometer ligger foran oss.100 pilegrimer fra flere land har påtatt seg å bære denne pilegrimsstaven hele den lange veien. Heldigvis får vi følge av frivillige guider fra sju europeiske pilegrimsforeninger; fra Norge i nord til Italia i sør.
Vi har tenkt å ankomme Roma i midten av oktober. Der skal vi feire og jubilere tre hele dager til ende. Så  fortsetter ferden til Israel og Palestina hvor vi legger ut på vandring fra Nasaret til Jerusalem. Når pilegrimsstaven fra Nidaros ankommer Jerusalem 25. oktober, vil den ha passert gjennom sju land i løpet av seks måneder.

Vi gjør dette for å skape internasjonal dialog og forbrødring. For å vandre og snakke sammen. For å krysse grenser i konkret og symbolsk  betydning. Som visjon har vi valgt Europarådets erlæring for de europeiske kulturveiene:
“Måtte håpet som har inspirert pilegrimer gjennom historien forene dem mot et felles mål, på tvers av nasjonale skillelinjer og interesser, og bli en kilde til inspirasjon for oss i dag, særlig for ungdom, til å vandre på disse veiene og til å bygge samfunn basert  på toleranse, respekt for andre, frihet og solidaritet.”
Hør Tron Soot-Ryens intervju med Stein Thue i 'Her og nå' på NRK 22. april 2015

English summary:
May the faith which has inspired pilgrims throughout history, uniting them in a common aspiration and transcending national differences and interests, inspire us today, and young people in particular, to travel along these routes in order to build a society founded on tolerance,respect for others, freedom and solidarity. We appeal to all Europeans and in particular to the youth of Europe by recalling the fundamental values and the importance of respect for cultural diversity, and intercultural and inter-religious dialogue.

2015/05/02

From Nidaros to Rome and Jerusalem

Click the above map to view larger version.
Download a larger version of the map (jpeg)

Pilgrims Crossing Borders
is a  pilgrim relay from Trondheim/Nidaros to Rome and Jerusalem, planned to take place in 2015. When and where? Click here!

Read the German version

The distance from  Nidaros to Rome is approximately  3000 kilometres.  If we walk around 20 km a day, it will take us something like six months to get to Rome.

The point is not really to send a group of pilgrims off on the whole long journey. Rather, we envision a  relay walk with many participants from several countries, where pilgrims from Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Austria, Italy, UK, USA – and other countries – literally join in passing on a specially made pilgrim staff and a special diary from Nidaros to Roma – and then on to Jerusalem.

It sounds ambitious, but we think it’s possible. If our pilgrimage started in Trondheim in April 2015, we would arrive in Rome in October the same year. The next stage would depend on how we travel, but we expect to arrive in Jerusalem in the autumn of 2015.

150 pilgrims from Australia, Austria, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Italy,  Spain, Sweden, USA, UK and Norway have already signed up to participate. 

International cooperation
“Pilgrims Crossing Borders” will follow existing pilgrimage routes where possible. Through Europe we will follow the “Romweg of Stade” which goes from Stade, near Hamburg, then crossing Germany, Austria, Northern and Central Italy to Rome. This route follows the itinerary of the Abbot Albert von Stade in the 13th century. The route is being promoted by the German association Via Romea Stadensis and the Italian Via Romea Germanica.

The old Pilgrim Way from Stade to Rome.
Map by Jochen Heinke (c)
www.unterwegs-auf-alten-strassen.de
Eight European Pilgrim Associations are taking part in the relay: The Pilgrim Confraternity of St. Olav, The Confraternity of St. James, Norway, The Pilgrim Confraternity of St. Hallvard, Nordjysk Pilgrimsforening, Via Romea Germanica, Jakobsgemeinschaft Tirol, Via Romea Stadensis, The Gruppo dei Dodici and the Club Alpino Italiano (CAI).

The European Institute of Cultural Roads, the European Association of the Via Francigena and the National Pilgrim Centre in Norway have endorsed the idea of our pilgrim walk from Nidaros to Rome and Jerusalem. Other international participants may join. Consider yourself invited!

The pilgrim staff – which has been specially made for this event – will start its journey from Trondheim on April 22nd 2015. The Norwegians will walk - or ski, depending on the weather.  Transport solutions will be chosen if necessary as the main idea is to keep to the schedule and ensure that the staff and the diary arrive at their destination at the agreed time and place.

The itinerary below should give you an idea of what we have in mind.


Pilgrims Crossing Borders´  Itinerary 

Our Route
Departure dates 2015
Stages
Trondheim/Nidaros - Oslo
22 April – 23 May
31
Oslo  – Larvik
23 May 29 May
6
Larvik – Hirtshals
29/30 May
Ferry, one day only
Hirtshals – Flensborg
30 May – 21 June
21
Flensborg – Hamburg/Stade
21 June – 2 July
10
Hamburg/Stade
2- 3 July

Stade – Augsburg
3 July – 15 August
44
Augsburg – Austrian Border
16 August  – 25 August
8
Austrian Border  – Brenner Pass
25 August  – 28 August
4
Brenner Pass  – Orvieto
29 August – 7 October
40
Orvieto – Rome
7 October  – 14 October
7
Rome
14 – 16 October
3 days in Rome
Rome ­ – Tel Aviv
17 October

Nazareth – Jerusalem
18 October – 28 October
10
Average distance per day: 22 km /13 English miles

In addition to the grand relay from Trondheim to Rome, there will also be an over-lapping pilgrim walk from Rome to Santa Maria de Leuca in South Italy from 24 August until 12 October.

Detailed itineraries


Our Walk in the Holy Land

We  will take a plane from Rome to the Holy Land  17 October 2015. Once there, we will follow this trail: Nazareth – Sebastia – Nablus – Ariel – Aboud – Jifna – Jerusalem.  The distance is approximately 170 km, and we expect to be on our way for 10 days. Estimated time of arrival in Jerusalem is ultimo October 2015. Those who wish, may choose to continue on a pilgrim walk from Jerusalem via Bethlehem and Jericho to the Jordan valley, an excursion that will take 3- 4 days.  Dates and details will follow.

Welcome pilgrims 
Pilgrims who wish to participate in the walk should contact the local arrangers, i.e. the pilgrim confraternities and/or contact persons who are responsible for the stages

We invite groups as well as individual wanderers to join the walk for one or more stages. To sign up, contact the person who is responsible for the stage(s) you would like to join. Contact details

Pilgrims who wish to join the walk along other pilgrim trails towards Rome and Jerusalem are welcome to participate. Our walk should symbolise diversity and togetherness.

We are optimists and hope that many people will want to join. We are looking forward to getting to know pilgrims from near and far. All participants who wish to participate are invited to participate in the celebration on arrival in Rome on 15 October 2015. We have invited the Trondheim Soloists and other performers to add to the celebration. The time and place for the events will be announced on this blog, where you will also find more information, plans, schedules and contact lists.

You are invited to join our pilgrim relay.

Best regards,

Alberto Alberti (Rete dei Cammini)

Stein Thue (The Pilgrim Confraternity of St. Olav)

Einar Vegge (Pilgrim Pastor in Nidaros/Trondheim)

Pilgrims Crossing Borders Newsletter 1-2015

Our Diary and Pilgrim Credential
Dear fellow pilgrim,
Thank you for participating in Pilgrims Crossing Borders, the pilgrim relay from Trondheim to Rome and Jerusalem. The start of our relay is approaching, and we have much to look forward to.

Pilgrims from the following countries have signed up to participate: Australia, Austria, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Norway, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States of America.
The number of participants will vary from one country to the other, and we expect attendance from "long-haul" walkers as well as "day trippers". We are impressed and grateful for the idealism, helpfulness and hospitality shown by participants and supporters alike. We have a long road ahead, but we are many and well prepared.
Celebrating the Beginning
Our relay begins in Trondheim on Wednesday  the 22nd of April 2015. There will be a pilgrims' service in Nidaros Cathedral to mark the occasion. Tormod Tvete Vik's composition dedicated to the pilgrimage will be performed for the first time by the Trondheim Soloists and the Schola Sanctae Sunnivae Choir. The composition is inspired by hymns from the countries the pilgrims will walk through: Norway, Denmark, Germany, Austria, Italy, Palestine and Israel. This composition will also be played to celebrate the pilgrims' arrival in Rome and Jerusalem in October. The bells of Nidaros Cathedral will toll to salute the departing pilgrims on their first lap (21 km). You are all welcome to attend the pilgrims’ service at 11:00 am. Our departure will take place after the church service at 12 noon from “nullsteinen” by the west front of the cathedral.
Our Travel Plan
A brief summary of our travel plan for the participants who have joined us lately:
We will carry a pilgrim staff and the diary that belongs to it – all the way from Norway to the Holy Land. The total walking distance is more than 3000 kilometers.The walking route goes from Trondheim via Oslo to Larvik, continues on the ferry across Skagerak to Denmark where pilgrims will walk from Hirtshals to Bov kirke near the German Border. Pilgrims will bring the staff from Bov to Hamburg – where there will be an exchange with members of the Förderverein Romweg - Abt Albert von Stade. Fellow pilgrims from the Via Romea Stadensis will be in charge from Hamburg via Stade to Mittenwald where the group will be met by members of the Jakobsgemeinschaft Tirol who will take over the staff and walk through Austria to the Brenner pass. Members of the Via Romea Germanica will walk with us in Italy from the Brenner pass to Rome where we’ll have three days of rest and celebration (14-16 October 2015).
Arrival in Rome
In Rome there will be a concert for pilgrims with music by the Trondheim Soloists in Chiesa di San Giovanni Battista dei Genovesi on 15 October 2015 (Address: Via Anicia, 12, 00153 Roma, Italia). All participants and supporters are cordially invited to attend the festivities in Rome. Please check our blog at picrobo.blogspot.no where you soon will find a detailed program for the events.
Pilgrimage in the Holy Land
A group from Pilgrims Crossing Borders will depart by plane from Rome to Tel Aviv 17 October. From Tel Aviv we will travel to Nazareth where our walk will begin Sunday morning 18 October. Our walk will go through Israel as well as through Palestinian territory, and much of the program will be organized in conjunction with the Alternative Tourism Group a Palestinian NGO specializing in tours and pilgrimage.  Yu will find tentative programs for these walks via this page: http://bit.ly/itinerary2015. Please note that we have two groups with similar itineraries in the Holy Land. More information regarding accommodation, payment, preferred groups etc will soon be sent to participants who have signed up for this part of the pilgrimage. For questions regarding the pilgrimage in the Holy Land, please contact Pilgrim Pastor Einar Vegge (einar.vegge(at)kirken.no
Necessities and Blessings
To join the relay, you need to have some walking experience and be able to walk approximately 20 km a day for the stages you sign up for.  If you plan to walk longer distances, make sure to have days of rest at sensible intervals. As true pilgrims we will stand shoulder to shoulder and help each other when needed. But, in order to be covered against unforeseen circumstances, we urge you to take out an adequate travel insurance just in case.
We believe this walk will be a wonderful experience – filled with adventures, new friendships and cultural as well as spiritual input. We are well organized and ready to contribute along the way, supporters as well as pilgrims. If you have questions, feel free to ask, we are here for you. Our contact details are listed here: http://bit.ly/PiCroBoContacts

Accommodation and payment
The accommodation will as a rule have pilgrim standard, i.e. basic facilities. The price level will vary from country to country, but we’ll choose reasonably priced accommodation. On some sections  you will be asked to pay a deposit when you sign up. This deposit  will be deducted from your expenses toward accommodation, so it’s no additional cost. If you want to walk stages from the Brenner pass to Rome, you must pay 30% of the fee when you sign up, the remaining 70% by 31 July 2015. You will find instructions and payment details on this page: http://bit.ly/itinerary2015
Luggage transport
Luggage transport will be available in Denmark, North Germany, Austria and Italy.  From Trondheim to Larvik, and from Hamburg to Mittenwald luggage transport can be organized in co-operation between the pilgrims, the local guides and the hostel-keepers.  We pay for luggage transport by splitting the costs between us. The price will be without profit, i.e. at cost.
Diary and Social Media
All participants are encouraged to write their names and e-mail address in the small ring binder that follows the relay, or on the last pages of the diary (see photo on page 1). We appreciate your participation and ask you to write a few lines about the stages you cover in the diary.  Use the language you prefer. Please be brief and to the point.

When you walk by religious and cultural monuments where “pilgrim stamps” are available, please print a stamp next to your entry in the diary. The diary serves as our Pilgrim Credential.
All participants in the relay, regardless of the length of their walk, will receive a pdf version of our diary when it is complete.

Messages and pictures from participants are welcome on our blog and social media. Please send brief texts and/or photos from your walk directly to our blog or via email to: picrobo(at)online.no. Photos and posts are also welcome on our Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/picrobo
The Purpose of our Walk
Our purpose is to build friendship, engage in dialogue and cross borders literally and metaphorically. Our pilgrimage will symbolize diversity and solidarity, and we welcome participants with different backgrounds and religious denominations to walk together. Cultural events will be organized along the way. We are looking forward to our walk with you, welcome everyone!
Do feel free to share this newsletter that also will appear on our blog: picrobo.blogspot.no


Best wishes,

Stein Thue and Einar Vegge


Contact Details

In order to register for the stages you would like to join, please notify the following coordinators.
Thank you for your patience and support.

Coordinators
Telephone
E-mail
Vigdis Vormdal 
Trondheim - Oslo
+47 975 97 780
vig-vor(at)online.no
Tone Stræte
Signing up Trondheim –Oslo
+47 474 78 266
hamar(at)pilegrim.info
Eivind Luthen 
Oslo - Larvik
+47  2233 0311
pilergrim(at)pilegrim.no
Andreas Blinkenberg
Hirtshals - Viborg
+45 3170 1614
pilgrimnord(at)gmail.com
Elisabeth Lidell
Viborg – Padborg
+45 86177204
lidell(at)webspeed.dk
Bernd Lohse
 Padborg – Hamburg
+49 (0)151 - 165 30 875
Lohse(at)jacobus.de
Thomas Dahms Hamburg–Schmalkalden
+49 163 2598456
dahms(at)ostfalen-portal.de
Werner Binnen
(Schmalkalden–Mittenwald)
+49 9331 4913
wernerbinnen(at)web.de
Meinhard Egger
+43 699 88454869

meinhard.egger(at)tele2.at
Rodolfo Valenti 
North and Central Italy
+39 366 1305777
viaromeagermanica(at)gmail.com
Flavio Foietta
North and Central Italy
+39 366 1305777
viaromeagermanica(at)gmail.com
Alberto Alberti
Rome and South Italy
+39 349 1648614
Einar Vegge
The Holy Land
+47 922 00 171

einar.vegge(at)kirken.no
Stein Thue
Coordinator PiCroBo
+47 911 12 479
stein.thue(at)gmail.com

Signing up for the Walk

We invite groups as well as individual pilgrims to join the walk for one or more stages.  Pilgrims who wish to participate should contact the local organizers, i.e. the pilgrim confraternities and/or contact persons who are responsible for the stages in question. You will find our details below. Please indicate which part of the walk you wish to join, and the dates, and fill out the relevant forms where this is requested. Thank you.

We are grateful for your support and participation.