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Statue of S. Olav at (Austevoll Church

Olaf II Haraldsson (c. 995 – 29 July 1030), later known as Saint Olaf and Olaf the Holy, was King of Norway from 1015 to 1028. Son of Harald Grenske, a petty king in Vestfold, Norway, he was posthumously given the title Rex Perpetuus Norvegiae (English: Eternal/Perpetual King of Norway) and canonised at Nidaros (Trondheim) by Bishop Grimketel, one year after his death in the Battle of Stiklestad on 29 July 1030. His remains were enshrined in Nidaros Cathedral, built over his burial site. His sainthood encouraged the widespread adoption of Christianity by Scandinavia's Vikings/Norsemen. (Full article...)


Attributes: An axe in Norway's coat of arms; Olsok (29 July) his day of celebration
Patronage: Norway, Faroe Islands, chapel of the Varangians
See also: Saint Martha

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