Saint Hallvard - Oslo's Patron Saint (approx. 1020 - 1043
This mural from the Central Hall - painted by Alf Rolfsen in 1948 - shows the city's patron Saint Hallvard. The legend of Saint Hallvard is a motif that recurs in the City Hall.
Oslo's patron saint was a highborn farmer's son from Lier. One day in 1043 Hallvard tried to save a pregnant woman who was being pursued by assailants. Hallvard took her onboard his boat and set off across the Drammens Fjord towards safety on the other side, but the villains caught up with them.
Hallvard was struck by three arrows and killed. His corpse was then weighted down with a millstone and thrown into the sea, but both corpse and millstone floated to the surface.
When people heard about this miracle, they began to worship him as a local saint.
Hallvard was originally buried in Lier, but when the Oslo Cathedral was completed in about 1130, his relics were transferred there and placed in a casket on the high altar. The church was later named after Hallvard (Saint Hallvard Cathedral).
Worship of Saint Hallvard was particularly widespread in Viken (the Oslo Fjord area) and the Oppland area. His commemoration day is 15th May, which is often called Oslo Day. Around the year 1300 Oslo adopted a seal depicting the legend of Saint Hallvard. The designs of the city's present coat of arms dates from 1924.