One of our editors was able, this past Sunday, to attend a choral Divine Service at the Aarhus Cathedral in Denmark. The cathedral, dedicated to St. Clement, is known for its well-preserved medieval frescoes, a splendid altar completed on the eve of the Reformation, a magnificent late 16th-century pulpit, and in general 500 years’ worth of Lutheran artwork. All of it creating an effect somewhere between otherworldly decadence and mildly self-punishing austerity.
The service was well attended, with over 200 (maybe up to 300) worshippers of all ages, including a fair number of children. There were two baptisms. Riveting organ music and singing, both from the choir and the congregation, with everyone remaining seated for the postlude! Once again, I was reminded the meta-language of the liturgy crosses all linguistic boundaries. You don't have to guess very hard what's being said or done. And those Lutheran hymns ... "Dit ord, o Gud, som duggen kvæger den svage sjæl med kraft og fred! / Thy Word, O God, like dew, restoreth My fainting soul to strength and peace—which I also know in Polish (“Twe Słowo rosą jest dla dusz...,” though set to a different tune than Neumark)—in this case, all translations from the German.
Below you’ll find a short film made of pictures taken with the phone mostly after the service and including just a tiny bit of the Communion music.
Aarhus will be the host of the International Congress for Luther Research in 2026 to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the first congress also held in Aarhus in 1956 and hosted by Prof. Regin Prenter.
ALPB banquet executive director
