# Saint Botvid

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{{Infobox saint
|name= Saint Botvid
|birth_date=
|death_date= c. 1100<ref>Basil Watkins, ''The Book of Saints: A Comprehensive Biographical Dictionary'', 2015, p. 113</ref><ref>''Women and Pilgrimage in Medieval Galicia'', edited by Carlos Andres Gonzalez-Paz, 2016, ch. 7</ref><ref>John J. Delaney, ''Dictionary of Saints'', 2005, p. 108</ref><ref>Maurice Drake & Wilfred Drake, ''Saints and Their Emblems'', 1916, p. 20</ref>
|feast_day= 28 July
|venerated_in= 
|image= St Botvid, formerly in Orkesta Church, Sweden.jpg
|imagesize= 150px
|caption= Saint Botvid
|birth_place= [Södermanland](/source/S%C3%B6dermanland), [Sweden](/source/Sweden)
|death_place=[Södermanland](/source/S%C3%B6dermanland), [Sweden](/source/Sweden)
|titles= [Martyr](/source/Martyr)
|beatified_date=  
|beatified_place=
|beatified_by=
|canonized_date=
|canonized_place=
|canonized_by=
|attributes= 
|major_shrine= Salem, Sweden
|suppressed_date=
|issues= 
}}

'''Saint Botvid''' was a [Christian](/source/Christian) [missionary](/source/missionary) in Sweden during the 11th century.

==Biography==
Botvid, who was born in [Södermanland](/source/S%C3%B6dermanland), [Sweden](/source/Sweden), went on a trade trip to [England](/source/England) where he came into contact with [Christianity](/source/Christianity) and was converted to the [Catholic](/source/Catholic_Church) faith.<ref>[https://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/oi/authority.20110803095520379 "Botvid", ''	The Oxford Dictionary of Saint''] 5 ed., (David Farmer, ed.) 2011 {{ISBN|9780199596607}}</ref> Botvid was sent back as a missionary to Sweden by [Saint Sigfrid](/source/Saint_Sigfrid) of [Växjö](/source/V%C3%A4xj%C3%B6) along with [Saint David](/source/Saint_David_(Sweden)) and [Saint Eskil](/source/Saint_Eskil). The missionaries preached chiefly in [Södermanland](/source/S%C3%B6dermanland) and [Västmanland](/source/V%C3%A4stmanland), in the area of [Lake Mälaren](/source/Lake_M%C3%A4laren). According to legend, Botvid was killed with an axe while boating near Rågö in the archipelago of [Södermanland](/source/S%C3%B6dermanland). Botvid was buried in Salem Church (''Salems kyrka'') around the year 1100<ref>Basil Watkins, ''The Book of Saints: A Comprehensive Biographical Dictionary'', 2015, p. 113</ref><ref>''Women and Pilgrimage in Medieval Galicia'', edited by Carlos Andres Gonzalez-Paz, 2016, ch. 7</ref><ref>John J. Delaney, ''Dictionary of Saints'', 2005, p. 108</ref><ref>Maurice Drake & Wilfred Drake, ''Saints and Their Emblems'', 1916, p. 20</ref> which led to the church becoming a pilgrimage church.

==Legacy==
Saint Botvid is shown on the seal and coat of arms of [Botkyrka](/source/Botkyrka) Municipality, where he carries an axe and a fish. Botkyrka is [Swedish](/source/Swedish_language) and short for "Botvid's Church". Saint Botvid is one of the guardian saints of [Södermanland](/source/S%C3%B6dermanland) along with [Saint Eskil](/source/Saint_Eskil) who had his base in the city of [Eskilstuna](/source/Eskilstuna) in eastern [Södermanland](/source/S%C3%B6dermanland).<ref>[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14347a.htm ''Sweden'']; The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 14. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1912</ref>

==Saint Botvid's Spring==
right|thumb|Notice at Saint Botvid's Spring near Lake Bornsjön
Saint Botvid is associated with Saint Botvid's Spring (''Sankt Botvids källa''), an [artesian spring](/source/artesian_spring) where the water flows out under its own pressure. The spring is located at the southeastern tip of Lake Bornsjöns in [Salem Municipality](/source/Salems_kommun) (''Salems kommun'') in [Stockholm County](/source/Stockholm_County).

In a medieval tradition, a spring would always be found in connection to the death of a saint. According to legend, when the remains of Saint Botvid were transported to the church in today's Botkyrka, the casket was temporarily put down near the shore of Lake Bornsjön, where a spring welled up. It continues to provide clear water to this day.<ref>[http://www.salem.se/Innehall/Kultur-natur--fritid/Historik/Historia/Botvidslegenden/ ''Salems och Botkyrkas eget helgon Sankt Botvid'' (Salemsboken. Salems kommun)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100821150807/http://www.salem.se/Innehall/Kultur-natur--fritid/Historik/Historia/Botvidslegenden/ |date=2010-08-21 }}</ref>

==References==
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Botvid, Saint}}
Category:12th-century deaths
Category:Converts to Roman Catholicism from paganism
Category:Swedish Roman Catholics
Category:12th-century Christian saints
Category:Medieval Swedish saints
Category:Year of birth unknown
Category:12th-century Swedish people

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Saint Botvid](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Botvid) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Botvid?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.