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Saint Magnus of Orkney

Saint Magnus of Orkney Also known as

Magnus Erlendsson of Orkney
Magnus Erlendsson
Magnus the Martyr
Mans…

16 April
13 December (translation of relics)

Profile

Born to a Viking family, son of Erlend Thorfinnsson, Earl of Orkney; related to King Olav II and King Harald II of Norway. He was raised as a pagan and lived as a pirate. Convert to Christianity, which made him unpopular in the Norwegian royal court especially when he refused to fight Christians. Earl of the Orkney Islands from 1108 to 1115. Killed during a political struggle with the pagan Norwegian elements for control of the Christian areas under his rule, and thus considered a martyr. Two sagas have been written about his life.

Born

c.1075 in the Orkney Islands, Scotland

Died

struck in the head with an axe in 1115 at Egilsay Island, Scotland
his last words were reported to a prayer asking for forgiveness of his killer
buried in Christ Church, Birsay, Orkland, Scotland
re-interred in cathedral of Saint Magnus in Kirkwall, Orkney, Scotland in 13 December 1137
relics rediscovered during excavations in 1919