Vestvågøy
Theme - 10
The Island of Selje and
The Legend of Saint Sunniva
The Island of Selje is situated in Nordfjord,
south west of the Norwegian coast. The area is
considered as important for the early
Christianization in Norway, with a monastery and a
status as a sacred place as well as an Episcopal
residence.
Selje today. (Ruins of the
monastery and Church tower by the Norwegian
coast).
Photo: Gro Steinsland 2002
We know several stories about St. Sunniva from
both Latin legends, descriptions from Monks and
Olav Trygvasson's Saga. According to the Saga, St.
Sunniva's remains and relics were discovered by
Olav Trygvasson at Selje during his missionary
travels around the end of the 1000th century.
Sunniva was the daughter of an Irish King who
inherited her father's land about 950 AD. Later, a
heathen chieftain sought to marry her, and Sunniva
and her people escaped by boats. With neither oars
nor sail, they trusted in God, and according to the
Saga they landed at Norway on the Island of Selje.
The grouped lived here until Håkon the earl
of Lade entered the Island. Hiding in a rock
shelter, Sunniva prayed to God for protection and
prayed for the mountain to collapse. The mountain
collapsed and the earl and his men went away.
It is said that the King Olav Trygvasson came to
hear of strange happenings at the Island of Selje.
When arriving at the island, he discovered the
remains and relics of Sunniva, and had a Church
built, blessed by the Bishop.
The tradition of honouring these Saints dates
back to around 1000 AD. Archaeological excavations
at the end of the 1990s resulted in the discovery
of house remains close to the St. Sunniva rock
shelter. Traces of activity date back to Early Iron
Age. The remains said to have been moved from Selje
to Bergen about 1170 AD, according to the Latin
Legend.
Today ruins in the area are still visible,
probably remains of buildings made between 1000 and
1100 AD. The Monastery is dedicated to Albanus, the
name of Sunnivas brother, who suffered a Martyrs
death.
The Island has a rather strategic position, in
the introduction of Christianity. As a place of
Episcopal residence between 1067 and 1093 it's
interesting to know that Olav Kyrre was king at
that time. The permanent Episcopal Residence did
probably move to Bergen, maybe around 1170 when it
is believed that St. Sunnivas relics were
moved?
Still today, people associate the area with
magic and the supernatural, in particular the rock
shelter where it is said that Sunniva was hiding.
The Roman Catholic Bishop has, since 1930, used the
term "Bishop of Selje", and the island is a famous
place for pilgrims.
Key
References
- Rindal, M & G. Steinsland. 2001. Heilage
stader i Norge, Samlaget.
- Hommedal, A-T. 1995. Selja i Nordfjord. Som
Moser eit brohovud i kristingsprosessen, In
"Møte mellom hedendom og kristendom i
Norge", Hans E. Lidèn (red.),
Universitetsforlaget.
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This
project has been supported by the EU as part of the Culture
2000 programme.