23.08.2022
‘1000 years of being present as people of God’ – Anniversary greetings to Diocese of Roskilde
The Archbishop of Dublin has sent greetings to the Diocese of Roskilde in Denmark which celebrated its 1000th anniversary at the weekend. The diocese has historic links with the United Dioceses of Dublin and Glendalough. One of five Viking longboats to be found in the museum in Roskilde is the Stallion of Glendalough which plied the route from Denmark to Ireland. The dioceses are also connected through the Anglican Communion and the Porvoo Communion. A special service to mark the anniversary took place in Roskilde Cathedral on Sunday (August 21). It was attended by the Queen of Denmark, Queen Margrethe II. Among the choirs singing at the service in the historic cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was the Senior Girls’ Choir of St Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin, Schola Patricii. You can read Archbishop Michael Jackson’s message to the bishop, clergy and people of the Diocese of Roskilde below.
I wish to send the greetings of The United Dioceses of Dublin and Glendalough and my personal congratulations to the Diocese of Roskilde – its bishop, clergy and people – on the celebration of one thousand years in the life of the diocese.
I realise that this celebration has been delayed because of the onset and the consequences of Covid–19. We continue to remember and to pray for those lost to Covid–19 and their relatives. We pray also for those struggling to cope in the aftermath of the global pandemic. I trust that the celebrations will be all the more joyous, now that people can gather in person to mark this happy event, this once–off occasion.
One thousand years of being present as the people of God, serving communities, contributing to public life and helping to shape popular opinion around The Gospel is a wonderful timespan. It is an equally wonderful achievement on the part of generations of people going about their daily lives and being a beacon of hope in the world of their day.
Those who have carried this torch of witness have done so by what The Prayer Book of The Church of Ireland, in its Prayer for Christian Citizenship, calls: patient continuance in welldoing.
Welldoing is an interesting and an important word because it takes us into the realm of moving and living beyond ourselves and contributing to civic and to public life for others. This is something that Christian people are called to do by the example of Jesus Christ when he came to earth, sent by The Father to restore the relationship between the Creator and the creation. It is an active virtue for the good of others.
The cosmic significance of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ comes home to us on a daily basis. It is now central to our identity, as together with the rest of the known world we face the twin crises of justice and environment.
I had, of course, hoped to be with you for this joyous event. There are special links between the Diocese of Roskilde and The United Dioceses of Dublin and Glendalough. These links have their own special memory in the boat that is to be seen in the Museum in Roskilde named: The Stallion of Glendalough. Also there was an historic voyage undertaken from Roskilde to Dublin on the eve of the millennium in a modern reconstruction of this vessel. This journey caused great rejoicing in the city of Dublin and all who took part in its planning and delivery are right to be proud of it.
Unfortunately, it has not been possible for me to be with you. It is in a spirt of solidarity and togetherness, nonetheless, that I share this brief greeting with you and trust in God’s blessing on all your happiness for the celebration of one thousand years.
With good wishes and blessings to all.
+Michael Dublin and Glendalough