Lived Religion in the Medieval North

Perspectives on the Cults of Saints in Sweden and Finland

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Extent: 250 pages

Publisher: Wiley-VCH

Subjects: Medieval Studies, Religious Studies

Series: Europa Sacra

Language: English

Hardback (Forthcoming)

(February 2027)

ISBN: 9782503622248

Price: $107.00

Combining close readings with digital analysis, this volume adds to the growing field of lived religion by exploring the cult of saints in the medieval North.


The concept of ‘lived religion’ — the social processes involved in faith-based practices — is growing in importance in medieval studies. This volume fills a gap within this field by focusing on the Nordic cults of saints, specifically in Sweden and Finland (c. 1200–1600). The nine contributions to this volume investigate a diverse range of practices and customs through studies of varied source materials, including calendars of feast days, sculpture and other artefacts, altar dedications, miracle stories, sermons, charters, and wills. They also demonstrate how digital tools can be applied in the study of medieval lived religion, in particular the research resource Mapping Saints. In utilizing this resource in their methodology, the authors reveal the potential of combining qualitative close readings with analyses of broader trends evidenced by quantitative data. Throughout the volume, there is a focus on place, space, and spatiality in the understanding of religious practices. As a whole, the volume thus situates lived religion in the medieval north in a wider European perspective, and introduces the Nordic context and relevant studies to an English-speaking audience.