This time they come in peace: For the first time in 1,000 years a Viking longship makes its way up the River Tyne to 'express gratitude for gift of Christianity'3 L3 G- r) j- y) o
By Leon Watson F3 {/ Y3 } d; V. b 0 p3 G5 p: k& H+ f9 B2 {( uTVBNOW 含有熱門話題，最新最快電視，軟體，遊戲，電影，動漫及日常生活及興趣交流等資訊。Last time they came it was to rape and pillage. But this time, nearly 1,000 years on, they just want to say thank you.5.39.217.76' g& m0 g) T7 i# p( S
! N0 Y! Z; Q6 y a公仔箱論壇In the 11th century, dreaded Viking longship was enough to strike fear in the hearts of anyone who was unfortunate enough to see one coming. 3 F0 n1 C, w& ]) W" m公仔箱論壇Now, one has returned to make its way up the River Tyne. 4 x- o7 D2 x/ _' w, d P$ u6 Q% H* { G+ x' S: FTVBNOW 含有熱門話題，最新最快電視，軟體，遊戲，電影，動漫及日常生活及興趣交流等資訊。* a" V+ s' o6 m8 @! K
The Gaia replica Viking longship sails underneath the Millennium and Tyne Bridges on the Newcastle-Gateshead quayside on Sunday afternoon as part of the Olympic festivalTVBNOW 含有熱門話題，最新最快電視，軟體，遊戲，電影，動漫及日常生活及興趣交流等資訊。4 L# d) Z9 T* Q# Z) `# j% a; ?
, w# F5 d: M1 Z2 L1 g! J: K; J . f: M8 V0 l( v: J' t( V Ntvb now,tvbnow,bttvbHundreds of people gathered to watch as the longship sailed underneath the bridge. The crew were dressed in full Viking attire% v0 r& R" u2 }& q
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Yesterday, the Millennium Bridge crossing the river between Newcastle and Gateshead was raised to welcome the old enemy.公仔箱論壇# b6 k" z8 h! a2 p1 C
It wasn't on a raid, it arrived to thank the people of Northumbria for sending them the missionaries who brought Christianity to Norway. 0 Y+ k# ?" z/ ^$ } r! x7 g) u* m* utvb now,tvbnow,bttvb5.39.217.762 Q& {4 G2 y% b* ]
Thirty-two days after setting off from a port near Oslo, the 24-metre Asa – a reproduction of an original warship dating back to the Viking raids – docked in the centre of Newcastle where those on board were given a civic reception from church and political leaders.公仔箱論壇" _" f/ d4 ?. q% b# C
$ [8 w6 h2 ~" H% ~/ L. fTVBNOW 含有熱門話題，最新最快電視，軟體，遊戲，電影，動漫及日常生活及興趣交流等資訊。The Asa was built in Norway in 1990 and is a replica of a longship excavated at Gokstad in 1880. 7 ^: j6 p1 a' M; e* s0 \2 p( @3 TMade out of solid oak, it is capable of speeds of up to 10 knots and can make long voyages in difficult conditions – including crossing the Atlantic, which it did during a voyage in 1991 to mark the anniversary of Leif Ericson's passage to North America. ' q/ n# U. ]7 e& M8 S. j1 t公仔箱論壇7 H- F0 G/ K3 @+ J( T
In total, 300 Christians aged between 15 and 70 made the journey to the Tyne, first heading south to Brest in France before crossing the Channel and tracking their way up the east coast. b6 {! u% s. _3 q1 _6 u4 f$ i
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The Asa was build in Norway in 1990 and is a replica of a longship excavated at Gokstad in 1880. It is made out of solid oak and is capable of speeds of up to 10 knots + O2 q: `' n5 k) F公仔箱論壇 # P1 V5 S/ ~! V! O8 o# ^) Mtvb now,tvbnow,bttvbKay Aarskog, a youth worker from Alesund who organised the volunteers, said: 'It has been excellent sailing. We had sunny weather and good winds. ; c" V6 `$ K d. L% w3 }+ `; XTVBNOW 含有熱門話題，最新最快電視，軟體，遊戲，電影，動漫及日常生活及興趣交流等資訊。'We are as a people a little bit ashamed of the past. Our Prime Minister has apologised to Lindisfarne at the beginning of the 1990s so we thought we should come and say thank you for bringing the gospel 1,000 years ago.' " a5 W" U: X3 R9 F) L( ITVBNOW 含有熱門話題，最新最快電視，軟體，遊戲，電影，動漫及日常生活及興趣交流等資訊。 - Y2 _& M: l% w% a0 \* I5.39.217.76The brutal destruction of Lindisfarne in 793 heralded the beginning of the Viking expansion into Britain. Later raids saw the monks forced to flee Holy Island for their lives, taking the sacred bones of St Cuthbert with them.6 M9 I1 ~% V0 @% ^& j: s
+ H# [1 ?, s6 j. l0 S& m$ G7 DTVBNOW 含有熱門話題，最新最快電視，軟體，遊戲，電影，動漫及日常生活及興趣交流等資訊。But while some theories suggest the Vikings might have been provoked to attack because of a fear that the Christian missionaries already at work in Scandinavia at the time were undermining their culture, today the religion which began with King Olav is regarded as reshaping the Viking world view and forming the basis for modern Nordic culture. ' U, t7 _/ J8 b: H( m- ?公仔箱論壇 & p1 w+ H; m9 w$ k4 y$ BTVBNOW 含有熱門話題，最新最快電視，軟體，遊戲，電影，動漫及日常生活及興趣交流等資訊。, A0 _3 T: P( ~. _- [
The Millennium Bridge crossing the river between Newcastle and Gateshead was raised to welcome the old enemyTVBNOW 含有熱門話題，最新最快電視，軟體，遊戲，電影，動漫及日常生活及興趣交流等資訊。' y' \. p9 e* D P# B& l
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Robert Ward, vicar of St Luke's in Newcastle, helped arrange the visit, and said Christians in Britain had long forgiven the Vikings for their notorious raiding parties which brought terror to north-western Europe between the 8th and 11th centuries. " s7 U$ M1 ^& q$ W0 h- Z; Gtvb now,tvbnow,bttvb& }9 p' u: k$ J8 b
'They feel extremely grateful. They feel they owe a debt to their Christian forebears of Northumbria who sent missionaries 1,000 years ago to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. This is an act of thanksgiving,' he said. 5 C9 |4 d# n, p: Y' W: G , d: @0 G! Y# e* ?7 WThe Viking expansion coincided with a period of significant climactic change and warming in Europe as well as an expanding population in Scandinavia. It also occurred around the time of Charlemagne's Saxon wars in which thousands of 'pagans' were killed or forcibly baptised.tvb now,tvbnow,bttvb; c+ Z- Z! b' }3 I: N6 c% g
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In Britain the Anglo Saxon Chronicles record a series of omens presaging the arrival of the invaders including lights in the sky, whirlwinds and 'fiery dragons flying across the firmament'. ; D Y* k: }& `5.39.217.76* I% s) Z% |. r( J8 q/ u3 |
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