The story in text:

You are now at the 12th century Forshem church. It is a remarkable church for several reasons. It is the only church in the Nordic countries which is dedicated to the Holy Sepulchre – that is, the Holy Sepulchre Christ – in Jerusalem. How can this be? The church itself can tell you more. Please go and stand before the main entrance to the church in the tower.

Look closer at the stone relief above the door into the church. The figure in the middle is Jesus who with two fingers is blessing a church, probably Forshem itself. The mason farthest left is shaping a stone block for the church construction. Note his chisel – pointed at one end, edged at the other. At the time. stonemasonry was a new art form in Sweden, which enabled buildings of stone – bigger and stronger than any built before. Perhaps this is a self-portrait by the man who executed the relief; he is sometimes called the Forshem Master and his work can be seen all round the church façade.

But who is the man on the right? Can you see that he is standing with his foot on Jesus’ foot? Why is he doing that? Perhaps in this way he is showing his reverence. Others say that this is an Oriental custom: the man is sealing a deal. To this day we talk of “being on a good footing” with somebody. Has he made a promise to Jesus? The man is probably the church builder. Can you see his horse on the far right? Has he been on a journey? We do not know the name of the builder. Perhaps he has made a vow to Jesus to have the church built.

Now walk around the church to the right and to you arrive at the South entrance to the church at the end of a small avenue. Here we find the next masterpiece of the Forshem Master, with an inscription in Latin: "Ista Ecclessia sit in honore domini nostri Iesu Christi et sancti sepulctri."
It means: this church shall be consecrated to our Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Sepulchre.

If you are now at the south entrance you will be able to see the inscription in the curved ribbon above the stone relief which crowns the entrance. This then is the proof that Forshem is a so-called burial church. It is also the continuation of the story. In the last stone relief the church was constructed, and in this one it is dedicated to Christ and the Tomb. We must also remember that the church was not only a meeting place but also a sacred building.

The figures in the stone relief you can see here represent Jesus in the middle surrounded by the apostles Peter and Paul. Note the cross above Jesus. The Cross of St George – see how the cross-arms become narrower towards the middle. In the first Crusade in 1099, Crusaders placed themselves in the protection of St George with this cross. It is conceivable that the builder of Forshem participated in the Crusade and then vowed to construct a church to the Holy Sepulchre in his own