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Saint Ansgar
Image: Siegfried Detlev Bendixen / After Hans Bornemann · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Saint Ansgar

A monk from Picardy who became the first apostle to the north of Europe

Rank
Saint
Kind
Bishop, Missionary
Life
801 – 865
Era
9th century
Feast
3 February
Countries
Germany, Denmark, Sweden
SwedenGermanyDenmark

Life story

Ansgar was born around 801 in Picardy, in what is now northern France, and was sent as a child to the abbey of Corbie. He later moved to the daughter abbey of Corvey in Saxony, where he taught. Around 826 he accompanied the Danish king Harald Klak, who had just been baptised at the Frankish court, back to his homeland to set up a small mission. That first attempt did not last, because the political situation was unstable.

Around 829 or 830 Ansgar travelled to Birka, a Swedish trading town, at the invitation of its king. He built a modest church there and cared for Christian captives. In 831 or 832 he was named bishop of Hamburg and received responsibility from the Holy See for the peoples of the north. In 845 Viking raiders sacked Hamburg and burned his church and library. The see was later transferred to Bremen, and the union of the two dioceses was confirmed by Pope Nicholas I in 864.

In his remaining years Ansgar obtained permission from King Horik of Denmark to build churches at Hedeby and Ribe, and he kept up the work of buying the freedom of slaves and training local boys for the priesthood. He died at Bremen on 3 February 865. His successor Rimbert wrote his biography, which is the main source for his life. His missions bore little fruit at the time, but they are seen as the beginning of Christianity in Scandinavia, which is why the Church calls him the Apostle of the North.

Works and witness

  • Monk of Corbie and Corvey, sent to Denmark around 826
  • Travelled to Birka in Sweden around 829–830 to preach
  • Bishop of Hamburg, whose see was later moved to Bremen
  • Won leave to build churches at Hedeby and Ribe under King Horik
  • His successor Rimbert wrote his life after his death

Patron of

Denmark

Saints from the same country

Saint Ambrose, Saint Hildegard of Bingen, Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein), Saint Bruno of Cologne

References

  • Vita Anskarii (Rimbert)
  • Martyrologium Romanum
  • Encyclopaedia Britannica – Saint Ansgar

Written by Anawim from documented history. Some details about ancient saints rest on tradition and are marked as such.