RAMUS VIRENS OLIVARUM

RAMUS VIRENS OLIVARUM (Hymn of St. Henry), a historical song found in the Piae Cantiones published in 1582 (see PIAE CANTIONES) and definitely of Finnish origin. Its eleven stanzas relate the coming of St. Henry to Finland in the twelfth century (see HENRY, PATRON SAINT OF FINLAND). The song is one of eleven in the collection in which acrostics in the texts help to identify the source. The author's name is formed by the First letter of each stanza and...