Hundreds gather to pay tribute to Kjeld Holm at Aarhus Cathedral in Denmark

In a heartfelt obituary, the family of Kjeld Holm invited everyone who knew, was inspired by, or simply liked him to his funeral. Nearly 500 hymn booklets were distributed to attendees today at Aarhus Cathedral, where former Bishop of Aarhus Kjeld Holm was laid to rest, accompanied by hymns such as “Se, nu stiger solen” and “Påskeblomst, hvad vil du her.” He passed away at the age of 79 after dedicating over 20 years of his life to serving as a bishop and head of the Aarhus diocese.

Among the mourners was former Aarhus mayor Flemming Knudsen, who recalled a friendship spanning four decades and praised Holm for his compassion towards the vulnerable. Many clergy attended the service, including former street pastor Anni Albæk, who remembered Holm as warm-hearted and engaging.

Hanne Hansen, a former colleague from Denmark’s Nursing College, described him as approachable and present in every conversation they had. Ellen Ryge Mathiesen benefited from Holm’s services after his retirement in 2015, noting his down-to-earth and friendly nature.

Kjeld Holm was a prominent advocate for refugees and immigrants’ rights and served as chairman of the Ethnic Equality Board. Bashy Quraishy, a member of the council, traveled from Copenhagen to pay his respects, praising Holm’s commitment to human rights.

Aarhus Mayor Jacob Bundsgaard reflected on Holm’s significant impact on debates regarding human rights and marriage equality. His efforts were pivotal in enabling same-sex marriages within the church, a cause that drew many attendees to the funeral. Kjeld Holm served as bishop from 1994 until his retirement in 2015.