Saints in foreign territory: medieval Swedish saints in early modern Lithuanian plainchant manuscripts

ENA number of early modern plainchant manuscripts from Lithuania contain special chants (antiphons) of medieval Swedish saints indicated as patron saints of the Kingdom of Sweden. The medieval and especially early modern history of Swedish-Lithuanian relations is marked by wars, although the Swedish Vasa dynasty ruled the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth for several decades in the mid-17th century. Thus, the emergence of the patron saints of Sweden in Lithuanian sources is very likely connected with these historical realities. However, another fact of interest is that these chants and feasts connected to them were still in use as late as 1770. This paper deals the ways and transmission of the antiphons in honour of Swedish medieval patron saints, as well as providing the musical features of the chants, in addition seeking to establish the original sources from which these could have been taken.