St. Helena of Sköfde

Helena (or Elin) was around the early twelfth century in southwest Sweden. She was from a noble family. She was widowed at a young age; shortly after the death of her husband she made a pilgrimage to Rome. She devoted the rest of her life to works of charity. She was known for helping the poor.

At her own expense, she built the church in Sköfde. According to legend, she had a portico built between the church and its tower, and when asked about its purpose, replied, "God will give us some saint whose body and relics can be suitably placed there." She was interred there after her death, and the church was eventually named after her.

In 1164, her daughter’s husband was murdered by some servants. The servants claimed Helena had instructed them to do it, even though she was currently on pilgrimage in the Holy Land. His family was enraged and believed the servants’ lie. After she had returned to Sweden, Helena went to Gotene to collect money for the church there. A member of her son-in-law’s family there stabbed her to death. It was later determined that Helena had had no knowledge or involvement in her son-in-law’s murder.

St. Helena of Sköfde’s feast day is July 31.