Christians. Accordingly Ansgar went to Sweden in 829, accompanied by Witmar. While crossing
the Baltic, the vessel was overtaken and plundered by pirates, and he arrived empty handed, not to
say destitute, at Björkö or Birka, the residence of King Björn, situated on an island in the Maelarn.
Although poverty, and misery were very poor introduction to a heathen king in ancient Scandinavia,
he was well received by the king; and in Hergeir, one of the most prominent men at the court of
Birka, he found a warm and reliable friend. Hergeir built the first Christian chapel in Sweden, and
during his whole life he proved an unfailing and powerful support of the Christian cause. After two
years’ successful labor, Ansgar returned to Germany; but he did not forget the work begun. As
soon as he was well established as bishop in Hamburg, he sent, in 834, Gautbert, a nephew of Ebo,
to Sweden, accompanied by Nithard and a number of other Christian priests, and well provided
with everything necessary for the work. Gautbert labored with great success. In Birka he built a
church, and thus it became possible for the Christians, scattered all over Sweden, to celebrate service
and partake of the Lord’s Supper in their own country without going to Duerstede or some other
foreign place. But here, as in Denmark, the success of the Christian mission aroused the jealousy
and hatred of the heathen, and, at last, even Hergeir was not able to keep them within bounds. An
infuriated swarm broke into the house of Gautbert. The house was plundered; Nithard was murdered;
the church was burnt, and Gautbert himself was sent in chains beyond the frontier. He never returned
to Sweden, but died as bishop of Osnabrück, shortly before Ansgar. When Ansgar first heard of
the outbreak in Sweden, he was himself flying before the fury of the Danish heathen, and for several
years he was unable to do anything for the Swedish mission. Ardgar, a former hermit, now a priest,
went to Sweden, and in Birka he found that Hergeir had succeeded in keeping together and defending
the Christian congregation; but Hergeir died shortly after, and with him fell the last defence against
the attacks of the heathen and barbarians.
Meanwhile Ansgar had been established in the archiepiscopal see of Hamburg-Bremen. In
848, he determined to go himself to Sweden. The costly presents he gave to king Olaf, the urgent
letters he brought from the emperor, and the king of Denmark, the magnificence and solemnity of
the appearance of the mission made a deep impression. The king promised that the question should
be laid before the assembled people, whether or not they would allow Christianity to be preached
again in the country. In the assembly it was the address of an old Swede, proving that the god of
the Christians was stronger even than Thor, and that it was poor policy for a nation not to have the
strongest god, which finally turned the scales, and once more the Christian missionaries were
allowed to preach undisturbed in the country,. Before Ansgar left, in 850, the church was rebuilt
in Birka, and, for a number of years, the missionary labor was continued with great zeal by Erimbert,
a nephew of Gautbert, by Ansfrid, born a Dane, and by Rimbert, also a Dane.
Nevertheless, although the persecutions ceased, Christianity made little progress, and when,
in 935, Archbishop Unni himself visited Birka, his principal labor consisted in bringing back to
the Christian fold such members as had strayed away among the heathen, and forgotten their faith.
Half a century later, however, during the reign of Olaf Skotkonge, the mission received a vigorous
impulse. The king himself and his sons were won for the Christian cause, and from Denmark a
number of English missionaries entered the country. The most prominent among these was Sigfrid,
who has been mentioned beside Ansgar as the apostle of the North. By his exertions many were
converted, and Christianity became a legally recognized religion in the country beside the old
heathenism. In the Southern part of Sweden, heathen sacrifices ceased, and heathen altars
rick simeone
(Rick Simeone)
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