Mariakyrkan

MARIA'S CHURCH

Sigtuna is the oldest city in the Swedish Empire, founded around 980, and was the center of the Christian mission in the Swedish Empire. The royal town plan from the 10th century is still followed. Ruins of three 12th-century churches remain, including the royal and episcopal church of St. Per, others have disappeared. St. Mary's Church was a monastery church, built in the 1240s by Dominicans as Mälardalen's first brick building, now the city's parish church. In St. Mary's Church you can buy the booklet "Virgin Mary and St. Mary's Church Sigtuna".

The foundation of the monastery in the 13th century did not go smoothly but was favored by the Archbishop of Uppsala named Jarler. He traveled to Sigtuna one last time in 1255 and was buried in the newly built monastery church, today Mariakyrkan, where the monks could celebrate soul masses for his salvation from purgatory. The grave is still visible, as an arch at the front of the church.

After the Reformation in the 16th century, St. Mary's Church was once again the scene of a large-scale funeral of the Privy Councillor and Baron of Steninge Christer Gabrielsson Oxenstierna in 1592. A personally designed raised stone slab in the chancel marks the grave. Power and glory, i.e. wealth, in the country had shifted from the churchmen in dioceses and monasteries to the king and the nobility on their estates. The period of freedom in Sweden in the 18th century with increased popular influence meant a temporary boost for the small town of Sigtuna. Straight ahead as you leave St. Mary's Church, you see the Gerner Grave Choir from 1757, which symbolizes the new pride and prosperity. Colonel Albrekt Gerner resided at Wenngarn's royal estate.

From "Ingegerdsleden: Pilgrimage route for spirituality, culture and peace" published by the Church of Sweden. Available as PDF: https://www.svenskakyrkan.se/filer/Ingegerdsleden_bok.pdf