St Magnus, Earl of Orkney
St Magnus was Earl of Orkney and was declared a saint two years after he was murdered.
Magnus Erlendsson was born circa 1080 in Orkney and received the earldom from the Norwegian king Øystein Magnusson. In Orkney, he came into conflict with his cousin over the sharing of power. During a conciliation meeting that took place in 1115, he was killed. Not long after, miracles began to happen at his gravesite. Earl Magnus had lived a pious and holy life and in 1135 he was officially declared a saint. His bones were disinterred and placed in a casket, which was later moved to St Olav’s Church in Kirkwall. In 1137, his nephew, Earl Ragnvald Kolsson, built a huge cathedral in Kirkwall dedicated to St Magnus. His casket was moved there and can still be found in the wall of the cathedral.
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Feast day
16 April (anniversary of his death, Magnusmesse) and 13 December (translation date)
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Attribute
Suit of armour
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Patron saint of
Orkney and its fishmongers.
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The sculpture
The statue was modelled by Stinius Fredriksen and carved by Oscar Lynum in 1945.
