Öja is a populated area, a socken (not to be confused with parish), on the Swedish island of Gotland.[3] It comprises the same area as the administrative Öja District, established on 1January 2016.[4]
Geography
Öja is situated partly on the narrow southern isthmus that connects the Storsudret peninsula to Gotland and partly on the peninsula itself.[5] The medievalÖja Church is located in the socken.[6] The localityBurgsvik is in the west part of Öja.[7] As of 2019[update], Öja Church belongs to Hoburg parish in Sudrets pastorat, along with the churches in Hamra, Vamlingbo, Sundre and Fide.[8][9]
Öja is mostly known for the 1.5 m (4.9 ft), 13th century, wooden sculpture Öjamadonnan ("The Öja Madonna"), a Stabat Mater representation of the Virgin Mary. The Catholic statue was removed from the Öja Church during the Swedish Reformation and stowed away in a woodshed. It was later retrieved by Gotland Museum, renovated in 1948 and it is now displayed in the museum. A replica of the statue for Öja Church, was later made by sculptor Bertil Nyström. The sculpture has been chosen as one of the Treasured Objects in Sweden.[11][12]
References
^Carlquist, Gunnar, ed. (1947–1955). "Öja socken". Svensk Uppslagsbok (in Swedish) (2nd ed.). Malmö: Förlagshuset Norden.
^The exact extent of the socken, now district, can be obtained by clicking on Kartinställningar and check the Socken box in the menu of this map from the Swedish National Heritage Board database.
