Lyse kloster

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View of the Monastery yard though the remains of the cloister, facing south-east.

Holy Maria Abbey (Lyse Mariakloster in Norwegian)) is a now-ruined Cistercian monastery in Os in the county of Hordaland in south-western Norway. The name Lyse is derived from Lysefjorden, “The fjord of light”.

1 Lysekloster Monastery
2 After the Reformation
3 The Monastery today
4 See also
5 External link

[edit] Lysekloster Monastery

Lysekloster was established in 1146 by Sigurd, Bishop of Bergen on farmland that he owned, as the Christianisation of Norway was nearing completion. The first monks were brought from Fountains Abbey in Yorkshire, England. It was the first Cistercian monastery in Norway and was modelled on others built in England and France.

As with all Cistercians, the monks took a vow of poverty. Renouncing all sources of income except from farming, they developed considerable skill in farming operations and management. Over time, this led to the Abbey acquiring many other farms in the area, making it ever more rich and powerful. In all the monastery had about 50 other farms in Os with at least as many more in other areas.

[edit] After the Reformation

The abbey was dissolved in 1537 when Christian III of Denmark decreed Lutheranism to be the state religion of Norway following which the abbey’s possessions were confiscated, becoming the property of the King. Over the next two centuries, the monastery’s stones were gradually removed and contributed to buildings such as Bergen’s Rosenkrantz Tower and Elsinore’s Kronberg Castle in Denmark. Some stones were shipped as far as Germany.

[edit] The Monastery today

The ruins are protected as a national monument and archaeological work to preserve and record the site continues. The Monastery is a well-visited tourist site with good nature walks nearby. It is common for couples today to be married at the ruins, or at least to have wedding photographs taken there.