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
- 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
MLA Citation
- “Saint Magnus of Orkney“. CatholicSaints.Info. 16 April 2024. Web. 18 April 2024. <>