Saint Henry came to Finland with King Eric of Sweden in the twelfth century and was a bishop in south-west Finland. Historians have yet to agree on the details of Saint Henry’s life.
Tradition has it that Bishop Henry was martyred in Köyliö (Kjulo in Swedish) in 1156. In the Middle Ages he was honoured on two separate days: January 20 (nowadays, January 19) to mark his death (called talvi-Heikki or Winter Henry), and on June 18 to mark the translation of his remains to the Cathedral in Turku (kesä-Heikki or Summer Henry).
The days of the Apostles and Evangelists were included in the Lutheran calendar until 1772. The most important of the Saints Days was that of Saint Henry, and the marking of his feast day continued for a long time even in the Lutheran Church. For Catholics, the day of St Henry, bishop and martyr, is one of the 24 most important liturgical days of the year, as he is the Patron Saint of the Catholic Diocese of Helsinki and of all Finland.
