Nicholas of Aarhus, Bl.

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NICHOLAS OF AARHUS, BL.

Danish ascetic; b. Jutland, c. 1150; d. Aarhus, Denmark, 1180. Nicholas, or Niels, was a bastard son of King Canute V Magnusson (d. 1157). He spent some years at the Danish court but later retired to his estates near Aarhus, where he led a simple and saintly life. Legend praises his chastity and charity. He was regarded as one of the patron saints of Aarhus although he was probably never formally canonized or beatified. There was an unsuccessful process initiated in Rome in 1254, and in connection with this a number of miracles were recorded.

Feast: Now unknown.

Bibliography: m. c. gertz, ed., Vitae Sanctorum Danorum, 3 v. (new ed. Copenhagen 190812) 3:391408. n. hansen, Vore Heigener (Copenhagen 1917) 173175. j. olrik, Dansk biografisk Leksikon, 27 v. (Copenhagen 193344) 16:615616.

[h. bekkernielsen]

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