JPG

A spectacular view looking up into the high ceiling of Kirkwall's St Magnus Cathedral.The story of the cathedral is a fascinating one.In the early 12th century the Norse Earldom of Orkney had the misfortune to be governed by the sons of the two brother Earls, Paul and Erlend. Where the brothers had shared the rule of the Earldom peaceably, the two first cousins, Hakon Paulson and Magnus Erlendson did not, and the differences between them widened as time went on, and both cousins attracted followers who enjoyed causing trouble between the Earls.Magnus was said to be the more popular of the two, a man of peace and great authority, while Hakon was known to be warlike and envious of the popularity of his cousin. Matters between the cousins reached a crisis in the year 1116 or 1117, and well-meaning friends of the two Earls sought to bring them together by arranging a meeting in the Easter of that year, on the island of Egilsay. Each Earl was to bring two ships and a limited number of men, and both agreed to this. As Earl Magnus crossed to the island, a great wave appeared out of deep sea and crashed down on the stern of the ship. This was seen as a bad omen, though Magnus carried on. And when Earl Hakon was seen to have landed a large force of fully-armed men from eight longships, Earl Magnus refused to allow his men to defend him from his cousin and sought to settle matters in a friendly way, and prayed to God for help in this. Earl Magnus made three offers to his cousin, rather than have Hakon suffer the guilt of killing him. He offered to go on pilgrimage to Rome or Jerusalem, and never return to Orkney. Hakon refused. Magnus then offered to be held in imprisonment for the rest of his life. Hakon refused. Magnus then said that Hakon could blind him, or maim him, and cast him into a dungeon. And Hakon accepted this, but then the followers of both men became angry, and said that one of them must die. Magnus was killed by Hakon's cook, ordered to do this because no one else would. He was buried on Egilsay and later at Birsay, where miracles of healing were experienced about his tomb. In the meantime, his nephew Rognvald sought to regain the Earldom for the family by subterfuge and force, from Norway. Failing on his first attempt, it was then suggested that he seek other help in this enterprise, that of his saintly martyred uncle, Earl Magnus. Rognvald then vowed to build a great stone church to the memory of his uncle. His next attempt met with success, and he became sole Earl of Orkney, having deposed Earl Paul Hakonsson, the son of Hakon Paulsson. Earl Magnus was made into a saint in the early 1130's