Seraphim Toll on December 15th
HRH Princess Birgitta, sister of HM The King, will be honoured by a Seraphim Toll at the Riddarholmen Church on December 15th 2024.
The Royal burial church on Riddarholmen also houses the Coats of arms of deceased Seraphim Knights. The deceased Knight or Member is honoured with a Seraphim Toll the same day as the funeral service takes place.
Seraphim Toll 15 december
The coats of arms for living Knights and Members are kept in the Royal Palace. When a Knight or Member passes away, the coat of arms is taken to the Riddarholmen Church during the day of the funeral. The Seraphim Toll lasts for one hour.
The church will be open to the public during the ceremony, and will open approximately at 10:00. The bell of the Riddarholmen Church will ring between 12:00 and 13:00.
condolences lists 15 december
Messages of condolence can be written on lists in the Hall of State at the Royal Palace (entry from the South Vault at Slottsbacken) or at the Riddarholmen Church between 10:00 and 13:00.
The Royal Cemetery 16 december
The Royal Cemetery in Haga Park will be open 16 December at 11:00–14:00, for those who like to visit HRH Princess Birgitta's final resting place.
About the Order of the Seraphim
Since 1748, the coats of arms of Seraphim Knights have hung on the walls of the church. When a Knight of the Seraphim dies, the date of death is added to the coat of arms before being taken to the Riddarholm Church.
The bell of the Riddarholmen Church are also rung on the day when a Seraphim Knight is buried. This is known as a Seraphim Toll.
The Royal Order of the Seraphim is the highest Royal Swedish Order. It has only one degree: Knight (for gentlemen) and Member (for ladies). The Order is mainly awarded to foreign Heads of State and their equals.
Since the church has not been a parish church for more than 200 years, these tolls are one of the few occasions when the church bell ring.
The ceremony
The Seraphim Toll usually takes place at 12:00–13:00 at the Riddarholmen Church, on the same day that the funeral service is held for Seraphim Knight.
The Seraphim arms of the deceased will be hung in the chancel during the toll. Musicians from the Armed Forces Music Corps will take part in the ceremony.
During the ceremony, the Deputy Clerk to the Office will officially announce the death of the Knight of the Seraphim.
The church is open open to the public during the ceremony.
How to get to the Riddarholmen Church
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Top image: The Riddarholmen Church, photo Dick Norberg/Royalpalaces.se
HRH Princess Birgitta, sister of HM The King, will be honoured by a Seraphim Toll in Riddarholmen Church on December 15th 2024.
The church is open to the public during the ceremony. Photo: Royalpalaces.se
The Riddarholmen Church is a royal burial church, and is also where the Seraphim arms of deceased Knights of the Order of the Seraphim are hung. Photo: Dick Norberg/Royalpalaces.se
See the ceremony from the Seraphim Toll September 19th 2022 for Queen Elisabeth.
