Rumor has it that beneath our feet lies a hidden world. That world is the ancient crypt of Vor Frue Kirke. Welcome to Vor Frue Kirke in Aarhus. This isn’t just one church. It is a complex of three unique spaces. There is the Crypt Church. There is the Monastery including the Abbey Church. And there is the Church of Our Lady itself. Together, they tell a long story of medieval church architecture. It is one of Aarhus’s oldest and most beautiful cultural monuments.
Let’s journey back in time to 930 AD. The first church here was a stave church. Sadly it burned down in 1051. But from the ashes a new church arose. Only nine years later, the Crypt Church was built on the same spot. It stands as Scandinavia’s oldest stone church and Aarhus’s oldest building. Consecrated as a Trinity Church it honored the Father Son and Holy Spirit. This is reflected in its design with three aisles and three arches. Each once had its own altar.
Fast forward to 1955. During a restoration of Vor Frue Kirke, the Crypt Church was rediscovered. It had been hidden beneath the floor. Imagine the surprise. Evidence suggested it served as a church in the 1300s. Later it became a storeroom for firewood. Even more remarkable, two graves were found. One held a child and the other an adult.
Take a moment to feel the calming energy of the Crypt Church. Light filters through small windows illuminating the Åby-Crucifix. This is a replica of Denmark’s oldest crucifix dating back to 1050-1100. The original was found in Åby Church near Aarhus. Now it resides in Copenhagen’s National Museum. This crucifix depicts Jesus as a prince with a Viking-style moustache. He is portrayed as a strong king who conquered death through crucifixion.
Around 1240, Dominican monks arrived in Aarhus. They took over Vor Frue Kirke then known as St. Nicolai Church. They began building the monastery’s three wings. These wings date back to the 14th century. Today the monastery serves as apartments for residents over 60.
The Abbey Church is a small area off the main church building. It dates from the late 1300s. Six cross vaults are supported by two yellowish sandstone columns. Frescoes from 1517 were painted over during the Reformation. The glass mosaic in the window is by Danish artist Per Kirkeby. His work is displayed in many Danish churches.
The original church St Nicolas’ Church was built around 1080. It was built on top of the Crypt Church. The Dominican monks made extensive improvements until the 1500s. After the Reformation the monks had to leave. The church was renamed Church of Our Lady. It became a parish church.
Notice the triptych altarpiece with its carved panels. It dates from 1525-30. The centerpiece shows Christ on the cross. The sides depict the twelve apostles three Dominican monks and St. Nicholas. During Lent the wings are closed revealing paintings of Christ and other saints.
Memorial Tablets from the 1600s honor significant citizens of Aarhus. They and their families were buried in the church. Many were under the church floor and the Crypt Church.
In 1541 King Christian III ordered the monastery to be a hospital for the sick and poor. Today it continues as apartments for seniors over 60.
The Abbey Church and Crypt Church are still used for services. The Crypt Church hosts the afternoon service on the first Sunday of each month. Other Sundays the service is in the Abbey Church.
The Church of Our Lady chose a logo. It is a tricycle symbol from the window behind the crucifix in the Crypt Church. The Triskel has been a Christian symbol of the Trinity since the Middle Ages. It is very appropriate. The Church of Our Lady is a complex of three parts. There is the Crypt Church the Abbey Church and the Church of Our Lady itself. As you leave Vor Frue Kirke consider the layers of history and faith. They are embedded in its stones and echoed in its halls.