Eivor Andersen Oftestad

Eivor Andersen Oftestad is a Professor of Christian History at the University of Inland Norway, affiliated with the Faculty of Teacher Education and Pedagogy and the Department of Social Studies, Religion and Ethics. She specializes in medieval and early modern religious history, with a focus on the intersection of sacred traditions, political narratives, and cultural memory.

Research Interests

• Medieval and early modern religious practices
• History of Christianity, particularly Scandinavian contexts
• Symbolic geography (Jerusalem, Rome, and Scandinavia)
• Time constructions in medieval Europe
• Human reproduction and childhood history

Key Projects

• Initiator of the NFR-funded project Tracing the Jerusalem Code: Christian Cultures in Scandinavia (2015–2018)
• Core researcher in Death in Early Protestant Tradition (University of Oslo, 2010–2013)
• Member of the TRANSLATIO research group (medieval time studies) and Education, Values and Cultural Heritage at HINN

Publications

Her research spans monographs like Vi lager barn (2016) and The Lateran Church and the Ark of the Covenant (2015), as well as articles on topics like medieval relic traditions, early modern funeral sermons, and Scandinavian religious identity. Recent work explores the entanglements of Jerusalem in medieval and early modern Scandinavian thought.

Labs/Teams

• TRANSLATIO: Investigates medieval time concepts centered on Rome and Scandinavia
• Education, Values and Cultural Heritage: Interdisciplinary group examining pedagogical and cultural legacy