The Ukrainian ambassador visits Stiklestad on Olympic Day, July 29th.

The Ukrainian ambassador visits Stiklestad on Olympic Day, July 29th.

The ties between Norway and Ukraine are strong both in the past and present. When Olav Haraldsson had to flee the country in 1028, he went to Kyiv to his brother-in-law Prince Yaroslav and sister-in-law Queen Ingegerd. There he remained until he returned to Norway in 1030. His son Magnus remained and grew up at the court in Kyiv. Later, Olav's brother, Harald Hardrada, would marry Jaroslav and Ingegerd's daughter, Elisiv.

These historical ties, as well as the ongoing war in Ukraine, are one of the reasons why the artistic director of The Saint Olav drama Nina Wester was inspired by President Zelenskyy's speech in her adaptation of the play script.

Against this backdrop, Stiklestad National Cultural Center and the Arven Museums are very proud to announce that the Ukrainian Ambassador to Norway, Oleksiy Gavrysh, will visit Stiklestad on July 29. Here he will both visit the museum and give a speech before the last performance of The Saint Olav dramaThe visit is a symbolic confirmation of the bond between the two countries and the role of the Olav heritage in this.