Stockholm Cathedral (Storkyrkan) in Stockholm, Sweden

by Susan Flantzer
© Unofficial Royalty 2022

Stockholm Cathedral with the Royal Palace of Stockholm on the right; Credit – By Julian Herzog, CC BY 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=62714436

Stockholm Cathedral is between the Royal Palace of Stockholm and Stortorget, the old main square of Stockholm, in Gamla stan, the old town of Stockholm. Originally, a Roman Catholic church, Stockholm Cathedral became a Lutheran church during the Protestant Reformation in Sweden. It is now a Church of Sweden, the Evangelical Lutheran national church in Sweden. The church has several names: Storkyrkan (in Swedish, stor = great and krykan = church, hence Great Church), Stockholms domkyrka (Stockholm Cathedral) and Sankt Nikolai kyrka (Saint Nicholas Church). In Sweden, it is most commonly called Storkyrkan.

The mail aisle of Stockholm Cathedral; Credit – By Holger.Ellgaard – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=14668823

According to tradition, the first church on the site was dedicated to St. Nicholas of Myra and was built in the 13th century by Birger Jarl, the founder of Stockholm A large donation to the church in 1346 by King Magnus IV of Sweden and his wife Blanche of Namur probably indicates the beginning of renovations and additions. After significant renovations and additions in the 14th and 15th centuries, the church reached its present size and shape as a five-aisled hall church in 1480. The church was originally built in the Brick Gothic style of the 13th century with a tower. From 1736 – 1742, Swedish architect Johan Eberhard Carlberg was employed to renovate the exterior and build a new tower. The exterior was transformed from a Gothic style to a Baroque style. The exterior seen today is still largely the result of Carlberg’s work.

Eustachius Erdmüller’s altarpiece; Credit – By Øyvind Holmstad – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=45574353

The Baroque altarpiece over the main altar was made in silver and ebony by Hamburg goldsmith Eustachius Erdmüller and was completed in 1652. The central part is divided into three levels with each level containing a panel with a silver relief. The reliefs depict, from bottom to top, the Crucifixion, the Entombment, and Christ in the realm of the dead. Silver statuettes of Moses and John the Baptist flank the Crucifixion panel. The second and third panels are flanked by the Four Evangelists, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.

Royal Pews; Credit – By Jorge Láscar from Melbourne, Australia – Royal Pews and their crowns – Sankt Nikolai kyrka, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=66006973

On either side of the nave are the two royal pews. The lower part is a seating area enclosed by a decorated wooden barrier. Originally a throne was placed in each pew. The upper part of each pew is a gilt wooden canopy in the form of an oversize royal crown carried by angels against a background of imitated drapery. The royal pews, intended for the royal family, were designed by Swedish architect Nicodemus Tessin the Younger and made by Swedish-German furniture maker and sculptor Burchard Precht.

Pulpit; Credit – By Øyvind Holmstad – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=45764645

The gilt wooden pulpit in the French Baroque style was also made by the sculptor Burchard Precht between 1698 and 1702.

Saint George and the Dragon; By Tuomas Vitikainen – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=67092031

Perhaps the most impressive sight at Stockholm Cathedral is the wooden sculpture that depicts the legend of Saint George and the Dragon. The statue was commissioned by Sten Sture the Elder, Swedish statesman and Regent of Sweden from 1470 – 1497 and 1501 -1503, following his victory over the Danish army in the Battle of Brunkeberg in 1471. During the battle, Sten Sture had prayed to Saint George to protect his army. The sculpture is attributed to Bernt Notke, one of the foremost artists in northern Europe at that time. The 12 feet/3.75 meters high statue depicts Saint George on horseback and stands on a wooden plinth, decorated with scenes from the legend of Saint George.

Statue of Saint George and the Dragon; Credit – By BugWarp – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=87483011

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Royal Events at Stockholm Cathedral

Over the centuries, many royal events have occurred at Stockholm Cathedral. The list below does not purport to be complete.

Coronations

The Coronation of King Gustav III of Sweden (Uncompleted) by Carl Gustav Pilo; Credit – Wikipedia

Stockholm Cathedral (Storkyrkan) along with Uppsala Cathedral and a few other churches have served as sites for the coronation of Sweden’s rulers. In 1873, King Oscar II was the last Swedish monarch to have a coronation. His son King Gustav V of Sweden (reigned 1907 – 1950) chose not to be crowned and his successors King Gustaf VI Adolf and King Carl XVI Gustav followed suit.

Christenings

Christening of Crown Prince Victoria, 1977; Credit – http://www.nordstjernan.com/news/people/4354/

Weddings

Wedding of Crown Princess Victoria and Daniel Westling, 2010

Funerals

Funeral of King Gustaf VI Adolf, 1973

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Works Cited

  • De.wikipedia.org. 2022. Sankt Nikolai kyrka – Wikipedia. [online] Available at: <https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sankt_Nikolai_kyrka> [Accessed 17 January 2022].
  • En.wikipedia.org. 2022. Saint George and the Dragon (Notke) – Wikipedia. [online] Available at: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_George_and_the_Dragon_(Notke)> [Accessed 17 January 2022].
  • En.wikipedia.org. 2022. Storkyrkan – Wikipedia. [online] Available at: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Storkyrkan> [Accessed 17 January 2022].
  • Sv.wikipedia.org. 2022. Sankt Göran och draken, Gamla stan – Wikipedia. [online] Available at: <https://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sankt_G%C3%B6ran_och_draken,_Gamla_stan> [Accessed 17 January 2022].
  • Sv.wikipedia.org. 2022. Storkyrkan – Wikipedia. [online] Available at: <https://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Storkyrkan> [Accessed 17 January 2022].
  • Sv.wikipedia.org. 2022. Svenska kröningar – Wikipedia. [online] Available at: <https://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Svenska_kr%C3%B6ningar> [Accessed 17 January 2022].