ÍSLEIFUR GISSURARSON, BISHOP OF SKÁLHOLT - 3 MARCH

 

ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN MARCH 

Saints celebrated on the 3rd of March

WELCOME!

ÍSLEIFUR GISSURARSON, BISHOP OF SKÁLHOLT 

Ísleifur Gissurarson, born in 1006, son of Gissur Teitsson and Þórdís Þóroddsdóttir, studied in Herford, Germany, and was ordained a priest.

THE VERY FIRST BISHOP OF ICELAND

The very first bishop of Iceland, he was ordained Bishop of Skálholt, Iceland, by Archbishop Adalbert, Bishop of Bremen on June 4, 1055. He was a bishop for 25.0 years. Bishop Ísleifur Gissurarson died July 5, 1080.

HE LABOURED ZEALOUSLY FOR SOULS

As bishop, he laboured zealously for souls. He instructed people about the Church teaching on marriages, and what constitutes an incestuous marriage. Bishop Ísleifur built a cathedral and also founded a school. One of his students was Jón Ögmundarson (1052-1121), who later became the first bishop in Hólar.

A MOST IMPORTANT CULTURAL AND POLITICAL CENTRE

For 700 years, Skálholt was one of two Sees in Iceland, the other being Hólar in the North. They were the two most important cultural and political centres in this country.

Some sources style him a saint. There is a tremendous amount of interest in Bishop Ísleifur: his "Life" has been translated into sixteen languages.

Ísleifur Gissurarson died in 1080. These were his successors (bishops of Skálholt):

1082–1118: Gissur Ísleifsson; he ascended the episcopal chair in 1082. Þorlákur Runólfsson was bishop from 1118 to 1133. He was succeeded by Magnús Einarsson (1134 to 1148). The next bishop was Klængur Þorsteinsson (1152 to 1176). He was followed by St Þorlákur helgi Þórhallsson (1178 to 1193), by Páll Jónsson (1195 to 1211), and by Magnús Gissurarson (1216 to 1237).

📷 Icelandic and Faroese Photographs of Frederick W.W. Howell, Cornell University Library..Title: Skálholt. The pyx-lid. Silver filigree...Date: ca. 1900..Place: Skálholt (Iceland) - Historic map by Abraham Ortelius, 16th century, Skálholt is ringed