The annual Jonsok pilgrimage to Røldal’s stave church is held in Norway.
Røldal Stave Church stands in the village of Røldal in Vestland, Norway. During the Middle Ages it became a pilgrimage destination because of a crucifix believed in local tradition to sweat healing moisture on the night before Midsummer. Pilgrims travelled to the church around Saint John’s Eve, known in Norway as Jonsok or Sankthans.
The church itself is a medieval wooden stave church, with major construction generally dated to the thirteenth century. Its pilgrimage tradition helped preserve Røldal’s importance even after the Reformation changed religious practice in Norway.
Jonsok is a Norwegian name for midsummer observances, but it is not the name of this particular church. The key distinction is between the nationwide seasonal custom and Røldal’s specific historic pilgrimage, which centred on a revered crucifix and the church’s healing reputation.