Saint Sigfrid

Saint Sigfrid of Sweden, originally from England and known in Old Norse as Sigurðr and in Old English as Sigefrið or Sigeferð, was a missionary-bishop active during the first half of the 11th century in Scandinavia. He is credited with performing the baptism of Olof Skötkonung, the first steadfastly Christian monarch of Sweden. Sigfrid likely arrived in Sweden around the year 1000 and conducted extensive missions in Götaland and Svealand. After spending some years in Trondheim, Norway, following his return to England, he continued his missionary work in Sweden until his death. According to tradition, he retired to Värend before dying in Växjö around the time of Adam of Bremen's writings. Sigfrid’s burial place in Växjö became the center of a cult, and an antiquarian named Johannes Vastovius stated that Pope Hadrian IV canonized him c. 1158. His feast day is celebrated on February 15th.