Sunniva from Selje
Saint Sunniva of Selje (10th century) is the patron saint of the Norwegian diocese of Bjørgvin and all of western Norway. Legend has it that she was an Irish king's daughter who refused the freedom of a pagan king and then fled when he invaded the country. She and her companions sought refuge in a cave on the Norwegian island of Selja (in today's municipality of Stad ). The local residents suspected that the strangers wanted to steal their sheep and sent Håkon Ladejarl out. Sunniva and her companions prayed to God that they should not fall into the hands of the Gentiles, whereupon the stones at the entrance to the cave fell and blocked the entrance.
Sunniva and the others died in the cave, but miracles were subsequently reported on the island. When the Christian King Olav I opened the cave in 996, Sunniva's body was said to have been found intact. Later became a Benedictine monastery , the Selje Monastery , built on the site, the ruins of which are still preserved.
After her relics were translated into the new cathedral in Bergen on September 7, 1170, her worship spread in Norway and neighboring countries.
Remembrance day
Catholic : July 8th
literature
- Yngvar Nielsen: De gamle helligdomme paa Selja . In: Historiske Afhandlinger tilegnet Prof. RJE Sars . 1905, p. 164-181 (Norwegian).
- Cato Enger: Helligdommen på Selja . In: Norske fortidsminnesmerkers forening . Årbok 1949 (Norwegian).
- Ekkart Sauser : Sunniva. In: Biographisch-Bibliographisches Kirchenlexikon (BBKL). Volume 18, Bautz, Herzberg 2001, ISBN 3-88309-086-7 , Sp. 1356-1357.
Web links
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Sunniva from Selje |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Sunniva |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | Patron saint of the Norwegian diocese of Bjørgvin and of all of Western Norway |
| DATE OF BIRTH | 10th century |
| DATE OF DEATH | 10th century or 11th century |