Crucifix of Holy Anders

Facts

Crucifix and cattle disease

By Mette Svart Kristiansen, Middelalderarkæolog (10 stories)

Hvilehøj is on Vårby Hill, north of the country road between Korsør and Slagelse. It is in the centre of a chain of Bronze Age burial mounds. From the tops, you can see Vårby stream and the Great Belt Bridge. High up on Hvilehøj stands a crucifix dating back to the medieval tale of Holy Anders. The road once passed close to the burial mound, where travellers could say a prayer. Only a few roadside crucifixes in Denmark can trace their roots to before the 20th century. The current crucifix from 1952 is a copy of an older cross from 1762.

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The miracle of Hvilehøj

Story written by Mette Svart Kristiansen

Time / Periode 1150 2000

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Holy Anders was vicar of Slagelse and died in 1205. His life included many miracles. One of them occurred on his pilgrimage to The Holy Land, Israel. It was Easter Sunday and his travelling companions wanted to go home. Anders wanted to go to a fair in Jaffa first and the others left him behind. He was travelling on foot but on his way home, a horseman gave him a lift on his horse. Anders fell asleep in the stranger's arms. Strangely enough, he woke up the same evening lying on Hvilehøj where he heard the church bells in Slagelse calling him to evensong. The locals erected a cross on Hvilehøj with an inscription. But when they let its condition deteriorate, the area was hit by cattle disease. The disease only left the area when they erected a new cross.