Canute, Eric, and Olaf, Kings

Three royal patrons of Scandinavia. Saint Canute IV of Denmark (d. 1086), nephew of King Sweyn II, defended the Church against rebels and was murdered before the altar of Saint Alban's at Odense; he is patron of Denmark. Saint Eric IX of Sweden (d. 1160) led the first Christian mission into Finland, codified the laws of his realm, and was struck down at Old Uppsala on the day of the Ascension by Danish raiders; he is patron of Sweden. Saint Olaf II of Norway (d. 1030), known as Olaf the Holy, fell at Stiklestad fighting to restore his kingdom and the Christian faith; from him sprang the conversion of Norway and Iceland. The Nordic calendars unite these three royal martyrs in one feast on July 10.