Medieval saints
In the Catholic Church, saints are of great importance. This was also true in Sweden during the Middle Ages. They held a natural place in people's everyday lives and were celebrated in church. Today, most of them are forgotten, but their names remain.
Viking Age
AD 800 – AD 1100
Middle Ages
AD 1050 – AD 1520
Modern Age
AD 1520 – AD 2025
Saints were people who had lived close to God and done good during their lives, perhaps having fought for Christianity. Some were canonised by the Pope or a bishop. They were seen as role models, and people prayed to them for help, for example, for good harvests or protection against the Black Death. Some saints were known throughout the country, such as Saint Bridget, while others were only known locally.
The saints were a link between God and the ordinary person. Their names appeared in the calendar, which also included events from the Church’s history.
