Holmenkollen Chapel, built in 1903, was destroyed by fire on August 23, 1992. This incident was one of many church burnings that occurred in Norway during the uprising of the black metal scene at the time. The new chapel was completed in 1996. The exact events surrounding the burning of the chapel are disputed. According to legend, Varg “Count Grishnackh” Vikernes (of Burzum and Mayhem), Bård “Faust” Eithun (of Emperor), and Øystein “Euronymous” Aarseth (of Mayhem) went to the chapel to bomb it. When the homemade bomb they placed on the altar failed to detonate, they doused hymnals and Bibles in gasoline and set them on fire on the altar, resulting in the church burning to the ground. Vikernes and Eithun were convicted of burning down the church, but Aarseth was killed by Vikernes before the trial. Vikernes, who was convicted of burning down four churches, has later claimed that all the churches except the one in Stavanger were set on fire by another individual.

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