King Harald was in attendance when Provost Ole Kristian Bonden was consecrated as the new bishop of Hamar. It was Parliament’s first vice-president Svein Harberg who accompanied the King during the solemn ceremony.
The new bishop comes from the position of provost in the Sør-Østerdal region. For many years before that he was parish priest in Elverum. Bonden originally comes from Brumunddal. Preses Olav Fykse Tveit led the service until the exhortation, the taking of vows, the laying on of hands and the prayer.
Several Norwegian bishops, the local parish priests and clergy from Finland, Denmark, Sweden, Iceland and England took part in the consecration service. Parts of the scripture reading also took place in Sami. After Bonden was declared as Hamar’s new bishop, a heartfelt and heartfelt applause erupted. Then he took over the leadership of the service.
The very first act of the new bishop was to give His Majesty King Harald communion in Hamar Cathedral. Although King Harald is no longer the official head of the Norwegian church, he often participates in major events such as this.
The King of Norway holds a ceremonial role in the Norwegian church. He is not a spiritual leader, but is responsible for supporting and promoting the Church’s traditions and values. The King also participates in religious events, such as confirmations and church weddings.
The King has no formal power within the Church, which operates as an independent institution, but serves as a symbol of national unity and the continuation of cultural heritage. The King’s role in the Church underlines the close relationship between the Church and the state in Norway, and his presence reinforces the importance of faith in the nation’s identity.
