Saint Eskil
Saint Eskil | |
---|---|
Roman Catholic Church | |
Feast | June 12[1] (June 11 in the Diocese of Strängnäs) |
Attributes | episcopal attire; three stones |
Patronage | Södermanland; the Diocese of Strängnäs |
Saint Eskil (11th century) was an
Life
Saint Eskil was sent as a missionary bishop to the
Eskil probably lived during the reign of King
Later, around 1080, he made a 30 km (19 mi) journey east of Tuna to
Saint Eskil was buried in Tuna. Strängnäs was later converted to Christianity and the diocese that Eskil had created in Tuna was moved or reestablished in Strängnäs.
Legend
According to the source closest in time, a legend of the Danish king
In its more developed form, the legend of Eskil is attested from the 13th century and known from a few different sources: according to this, he was successful in his mission during the reign of King Inge, but killed by Blot-Sweyn when trying to stop a pagan sacrifice on the hill where the Strängnäs Cathedral now stands. When the people would not listen to his remonstrances, he is said, by his prayers, to have raised a terrible storm that disrupted the ritual. King Blot-Sweyn then ordered him executed for sorcery. He was killed by stoning and with axes,[4] and the stones later became his attribute.
Some Christians attempted to bring his body back to Fors, but got only so far as Tuna when a dense fog impeded their progress, which they took as a sign to bury the saint there.[4] The legend shows stylistic influence from various sources, including the legend of
Veneration
Strängnäs Cathedral was later built on the same site of the pagan ritual Eskil had observed. This is confirmed, since the hill where the cathedral now stands is known to have been the ritual site and that the first wooden church built there was dedicated to Saint Eskil. There was a chapel dedicated to Saint Eskil in the cathedral at least by 1400.[7] Pilgrimage remained common to the site of his martyrdom although his relics were elsewhere.[8]
The old church and burial site of Saint Eskil in Tuna later became one of the first monasteries in the region. When Tuna received its municipal status, "Eskil" was added into the name, creating Eskilstuna. Relics of Eskil existed in the church of Eskilstuna, which was traditionally seen as his burial place, as well as in other churches within the diocese, elsewhere in Sweden, and in Roskilde and Copenhagen in Denmark. The monastery of Saint Eskil was completely destroyed by Swedish king Gustav Vasa during the Protestant Reformation and was replaced with the royal castle of Eskilstuna House. A silver reliquary from the fifteenth century in the shape of a hand, to hold a piece of arm bone, is housed in the History Museum of Stockholm.[9]
The veneration of Eskil spread in Sweden and to Denmark (Odense) and Norway (Trondheim). Eskil's feast (and purported day of death) was on 11 June, but it was later moved to June 12, except in the Diocese of Strängnäs, in order not to conflict with the Feast of Barnabas.
Eskil is the patron saint of the dioceses of Södermanland and Strägnäs in Sweden.[5]
References
- ^ Forster, Thomas Ignatius M.. Circle of the seasons, and perpetual key to the calendar and almanack United Kingdom, p. 164 1828.
- ^ Butler, Alban. "Saint Eskill, Bishop and Martyr in Sweden". Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs, and Principal Saints 1866. CatholicSaints.Info. 15 June 2013. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ISBN 9780429647703
- ^ a b c Fryxell, Anders. The History of Sweden United Kingdom, R. Bentley, 1844. p. 172 et seq.
- ^ a b "St. Eskil", FaithND, faith.nd.edu
- ISBN 9781580443241
- ^ Fallow, T.M., The Reliquary United Kingdom, John Russell Smith, 1894. p. 227
- ISBN 9780802091307
- ISBN 9781527561809
Sources
- Toni Schmid, "Eskil", Svenskt biografiskt lexikon, vol. 14, p. 518-522.
- The Diocese of Strängnäs, Strängnäs domkyrkas historia, Pamphlet available from the Diocese