The mourning service in Oslo Cathedral has started. – Help us to give love a safe framework, said the rector in the opening speech.
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The Church invites the people to gather in mourning the mass shooting in Oslo night to Saturday.
The article is updated.
Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit were both to be present, but the Royal House announced on Sunday morning that the crown prince has received the corona and must stand over.
Opened with mourning tones
A black-clad crown princess Mette-Marit therefore attended the service alone, which started at 11, to the tunes from Edvard Grieg’s “Sorrow March”.
Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre and several other ministers are in place, including Minister of Justice Emilie Enger Mehl, Minister of Finance Trygve Slagsvold Vedum and Minister of Culture and Gender Equality Anette Trettebergstuen.
Also present are Erna Solberg and her husband Sindre Finnes. Abid Raja and Guri Melby have attended, as well as Storting President Masud Gharahkhani.
Follow the broadcast on VGTV above.
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– For all queer people who live in fear
The service is led by the bishop and president of the Church of Norway, Olav Fykse Tveit, and it will be “marked by the terrorist attack night to Saturday with intercession for all who are affected, relatives, injured and all queers who live in fear”, the Cathedral stated in advance .
Anger and powerlessness
Domprost Anne-May Grasaas opened the ceremony:
– We are gathered in grief, despair, anger and powerlessness, she said.
– There are many indications that the queer environment was the goal. The diversity many have fought for in our country was attacked. It was a gloomy night.
The rector pointed out that the contrast is great to the celebration of diversity and the rainbow party earlier this week.
“We cling to the hope that love is stronger than death,” said the rector, pointing to a need for something “greater than ourselves.”
– We cry out to God, she said and sent thoughts to the dead, injured and relatives.
– Help us to give love a safe framework, she read in prayer.
Here are guests on their way into the church:
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Olav Fykse Tveit read from the message of love in the Bible’s Corinthian letter, that “love endures and endures all things.”
– The greatest of all is love, the bishop read and repeated Trettebergstuen’s statement that “the rainbow turned black”.
– Love never ends, he said, adding that it is now “our job to show that it is true”.
– We will love others as we are, said the bishop.
He said bullets can kill.
– But bullets can not take the life of love, they can take the lives of people and create anxiety that puts wounds in the body and mind. We’ve seen it before, and we’ll see it again.
– Sorrow and shame
– We miss the joy of love that we so wanted to gather around, Tveit said and stated that there must now be room for all kinds of emotions.
– Tears in grief and defiance are also an expression of love.
– We should have seen it before. Now must we see it. For the opposing forces are strong. The church has not been as clear as it should be, said the bishop, adding that we look at it “with sorrow and shame”.
– Love has not always been given the space it should have. The damage the Church’s words have done, we mourn.
– Dangerous
– The diversity between us is a gift. Many queer people have a will and a gift to show love that the rest of us cannot. But what has happened is one person’s responsibility, Tveit emphasized.
He added that it is dangerous when love does not become the greatest.
– Dangerous to life, for those who are exposed to it.
He urged that we humans must be exactly the people we are, “with all the colors of the rainbow.”
– For love never goes wrong.
President of the Storting Masud Gharahkhani was among those who held memorial services. He himself has close acquaintance with a person who was present and had to intervene in the drama.
– A terrorist is a cowardly terrorist. Dear Norway, we do not know all the details, but we know that the free society has again been affected, he said, describing the mass shooting as “an act of hatred”.
– It was supposed to be a week of folk festivals, but now we mourn as a nation, he said.
Jonas Gahr Støre was the next speaker out.
– Here from Oslo Cathedral, our thoughts and prayers go to those who are most affected.
The prime minister says he has received greetings from heads of state abroad.
– We stand together, he said.
– The shooting in the night hours put an end to the Pride parade, but it does not stop the fight to fight prejudice, discrimination and hatred. This fight is not over. It is not harmless, but we will win it together.
Støre urged to gather strength by turning his back on hatred.
– What we get in return for living with diversity is the strength of a society that has a higher heaven.
The police are on guard
It is hot but cloudy in the capital on Sunday. The security forces are large, and the police are on duty outside the church doors.
Leader of the organization FRI, Inge Alexander Gjestvang, has attended.
Artist Sondre Justad, who is himself openly bisexual, will contribute musically during the service. Nicolay Tangen Svennæs will play piano, Kåree Nordstoga will play organ, and singers from Oslo Domkor will sing.
People have gathered outside the church, several of them with flowers in their hands.
Two people were killed and 21 were injured in the shooting. Zaniar Matapour (42) was quickly arrested and charged with terrorism.
The Crown Prince and Crown Princess and Prince Sverre Magnus visited the scene on Saturday. It was emotional:
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