In honor of the 25th Anniversary of the Leiv Eriksson International Festival, Bishop Helga Haugland Byfuglien will visit Minneapolis to open the festival.
Bishop Byfuglien’s appointment as presiding bishop by the Norwegian Ministry of Church Affairs was a historic event in Norway. Until her installation, the presiding bishop was elected and not only oversaw the business of the Church of Norway but also served as bishop of his or her diocese. The office of permanent presiding bishop was established to eliminate the demands of the dual role.
While in Minneapolis, Bishop Byfuglien will visit Luther Seminary and participate in Mindekirken’s Tuesday Open House. On Wednesday, Oct. 10, she will meet with Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson, Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, in Chicago. She then flies to New York City to visit the United Nations and the Norwegian Seaman’s Church.
The Leiv Eriksson International Festival was founded in 1987 to establish an annual festival to celebrate Nordic cultural roots in the United States. This year's festival will commence on Sunday, October 7th with worship service starting at 11:00 a.m. in Mindekirken, 924 East 21st Street, Minneapolis.