- Lyse Abbey
Lyse Abbey or Saint Mary's Abbey, Lyse ("Lyse Mariakloster" in Norwegian) is a now-ruined
Cistercian monastery in Os in the county ofHordaland in south-westernNorway . The name "Lyse" is derived from theLysefjorden , "the fjord of light", on which the building stood.Pre-Reformation
Lyse Abbey was founded 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 fromFountains Abbey in Yorkshire, England. This was the first Cistercian monastery in Norway and was modelled on others built in England andFrance .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.
After the Reformation
The abbey was dissolved in
1537 whenChristian III of Denmark decreedLutheranism to be the state religion of Norway. The abbey’s possessions were confiscated, becoming the property of the King. Over the next two centuries, the stones of the monastery structures were gradually removed and contributed to buildings such as theRosenkrantz Tower inBergen , andKronborg Castle inHelsingør inDenmark . Some stones were shipped as far asGermany .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.
ee also
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Cistercian s
*Religion in Norway
*Evangelical Lutheran Free Church of Norway External links
* [http://www.byport.no/portal/turistattraksjoner/lysekloster.asp 360° view of the ruins] no icon
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