Church of Iceland

The Church of Iceland (Icelandic: Þjóðkirkjan, lit. 'The National

Evangelical Lutheran
Church'), officially the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Iceland
(hin evangelíska lúterska kirkja), is the national church of Iceland. Church of Iceland
The church is Christian and professes the Lutheran faith. It is a
member of the Lutheran World Federation, the Porvoo
Communion, the Communion of Protestant Churches in Europe,
and the World Council of Churches.

The church is organised as a single diocese headed by the Bishop

of Iceland. Agnes M. Sigurðardóttir, appointed in 2012, held this
post as of 2023,[2] the first woman to hold this position.[3] The
church has two suffragan sees, Skálholt and Hólar, whose bishops
are suffragans or assistant bishops to the Bishop of Iceland;
unusually, each has a cathedral church despite not being in a
separate diocese.

Classification Protestant
History
Orientation Lutheran
Scripture Bible
Pre-Christian era and the adoption of Polity Episcopal
Christianity Leader Bishop of Iceland
Associations Lutheran World
Christianity was present from the beginning of human habitation in
Iceland. The first people setting foot on Icelandic soil were Federation,
Chalcedonian Irish hermits (see Papar), seeking refuge on these World Council of
remote shores to worship Christ. Later, Norse settlers are thought Churches,
to have driven them out. Some of the settlers were Christians, Conference of
although the majority were pagan, worshipping the old Norse European
gods. When the Alþingi was first convened in 930 CE, it was Churches,
based upon Norse paganism. In the late 10th century, missionaries Communion of
from the continent sought to spread Catholicism (pre-Great Protestant
Schism) among the population.
Churches in
Ari Þorgilsson, in his historical work Íslendingabók, recounts that Europe,
the society was deeply divided between the adherents of the Porvoo
different religions that would not tolerate each other. At the Alþingi Communion
in Þingvellir, in the year 1000, the Icelandic Commonwealth was Region Iceland
on the brink of civil war. The different leaders realized the danger
and found a solution. They chose a person that everybody Headquarters Reykjavík,
respected for his wisdom, the heathen priest and chieftain, Þorgeir Iceland
of Ljósavatn, to decide which way the people should go. Þorgeir Origin 1540
retired to his dwelling and lay there all day meditating with a cloak
Separated from Church of
covering his face so that nobody would disturb him. The next day
Denmark
he called the assembly together and made his decision known. "If
we put asunder the law, we will put asunder the peace," he said.
"Let it be the foundation of our law that everyone in this land shall Members 227,259[1]
be Christian and believe in one God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit."
Official website kirkjan.is (http://ki
His conversion decree included three pagan practices that would
rkjan.is/) (in
be tolerated and only practiced in private. These practices were
pagan sacrifices, the exposure of infants, and the eating of horse Icelandic)
flesh. The people agreed and many were subsequently baptized in
the waters of Vígðalaug hot springs. Once Þorgeir was baptized he
returned to his farm in Ljósavatn, gathered the images of his gods,
and threw them into a waterfall to show his commitment to the new
law.[4]

Before Reformation

At the inauguration of Christianity in Iceland, missionary bishops A small wood and turf church in Hof,
and priests from Germany, England, and Eastern Europe worked Iceland.
among the population. The first Icelandic bishop, Ísleifur
Gissurarson, was consecrated in Bremen in 1056, and he made
Skálholt the episcopal see. Thereafter, Skálholt was the centre of Christian learning and spirituality in the
country through the 18th century. In spite of all the upheavals of history there is a marked continuity within
the church of Iceland. For the first five centuries, the Icelandic church was Roman Catholic. In the
beginning of 1056, it was part of the province in Bremen. Later, the Icelandic church came under the
archbishops of Lund and in 1153 it became a part of the province of Nidaros. Iceland was divided into two
dioceses, Skálholt, established 1056, and Holar in 1106. These continued until 1801, when Iceland became
one diocese under one bishop of Iceland, residing in Reykjavík.

The country was an independent republic from 930 until 1262. Then Iceland, having suffered civil war and
anarchy, came under the rule of the Norwegian Realm and in 1380 with Norway under the Danish crown.
In 1944 Iceland regained its independence as a republic.

Three Icelandic churchmen were revered as saints, even though none of them was actually canonized. The
most famous of them is Saint Thorlak (Þorlákur Þórhallsson) of Skálholt (1133–1193). He was educated in
Lincoln, England, and in Paris, France. Returning to Iceland, Þorlákur became an abbot of the Canon
Regular monastery of Þykkvibær, soon gaining a reputation for his sanctity. As a bishop of Skálholt, he
sought to enforce the decrees of Rome regarding the ownership of church property and morality of the
clergy. The Icelandic calendar has two days dedicated to Þorlákur, 20 July and 23 December. The other
two saintly bishops are Jón Ögmundsson (1106–1121) and Guðmundur Arason (1203–1237).

There was great literary activity during the 12th and 13th centuries, producing extensive religious literature
as well as romantic novels and sitcoms in the Icelandic language as well as the well-known sagas. Clergy
doubtless wrote most of them. Parts of the Bible were already translated into Icelandic in the 13th century.
This powerful and enduring literary tradition with its strong national character has shaped the Icelandic
language and inspired literary activity. Icelandic has had a continuity that makes it the oldest living
language in Europe. The Icelandic hymnal contains hymns from the 12th century and the 14th centuries in
their original linguistic forms.

Reformation

In 1540, the Lutheran Reformation was established in Iceland, enforced by the Danish crown. The
monasteries were dissolved and much of the property of the episcopal sees confiscated by the King of
Denmark, who became the supreme head of the church. A dark spot in the history of the Reformation is the
lawless execution in 1550 of the last Roman Catholic bishop of Hólar, Jón Arason, and his two sons. Most
of the Roman priests continued in their parishes under the Lutheran church ordinance. The Reformation
unleashed renewed literary activity in the country. The publication of the Icelandic translation of the New
Testament in 1540 and the entire Bible in 1584, marks important milestones in the history of the Icelandic
language and is a major factor in its preservation. The "Hymns of the Passion", 50 meditations on the cross
by the 17th century poet and minister Hallgrímur Pétursson (1614–1674), were for generations the most
important school of prayer and wisdom. The same can be said of "The Postil", the sermons of Jón Vídalin,
Bishop of Skálholt (1698–1720). His eloquent and dynamic sermons were read in every home for
generations.

The Icelandic Bible Society was founded in 1815. Its foundation was the fruit of the visit of a Scottish
minister, Ebenezer Henderson, who travelled around the country distributing Bibles and New Testaments.

The 19th century witnessed the beginning of a national revival in Iceland and a movement towards political
independence. Many clergy played an important part in that movement.

Modern era

The constitution of 1874 guarantees religious freedom, but the constitution also specifies that the
"Evangelical Lutheran Church is a national church and as such it is protected and supported by the State."
This provision was retained in the constitution of the Republic of Iceland of 1944. Around the start of the
20th century, the church legislation was reformed, parish councils were established and the congregations
gained the right to elect their pastors. A new translation of the Bible was printed in 1912, and revised in
1981. The most recent translation of the Bible was published in 2007 by the Icelandic Bible Society. In the
early 20th century, liberal theology was introduced in Iceland, causing great theological strife between
liberal and conservative adherents. Textual criticism of the Scriptures and radical theological liberalism was
quite influential in the Department of Theology within the newly founded University of Iceland. Spiritism
and theosophical writings were also influential in intellectual circles. Opposed to this were the inner
mission, the YMCA/YWCA, and missionary societies with a pietistic leadership. This conflict marred
church life in the country well into the 1960s. At the start of the 20th century, two Lutheran free churches
were founded, based on the same confessions as the national church and using the same liturgy and
hymnal, but structurally and financially independent. Earlier, Roman Catholic priests and nuns had
established missions and founded hospitals. In the early decades of the 20th century Seventh Day Adventist
and Pentecostal missions were quite successful.

Until the 20th century, most Icelanders were rural farmers and fishermen who enjoyed a traditional lifestyle.
The church was a part of this way of life, with prayers and devotions in every home and everyday life
influenced by religious customs. Modern social upheavals have brought with them problems for the church
in Iceland. Iceland is a modern and highly urbanized society, highly secularized with increasing pluralism
of belief.

About 62% of the population belong to the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Iceland[5] and over 90% of the
populace belong to Christian churches. Nine out of 10 children are baptised in their first year, more than
90% of adolescents are confirmed, 85% are married in the church and 99% of funerals take place in the
church. Regular Sunday morning worshippers are a much lower percentage of the population, even though
church festivals and special events frequently draw large crowds.
In 2000, the Icelandic people celebrated the millennium of Christianity in Iceland.[6] In a 2004 Gallup poll
of Icelanders, 51% of respondents described themselves as "religious".[7] Ordination of women and
blessing of same-sex marriages are allowed[8] while allowing individual priests to not go against their
conscience is discussed.

Organisation
Church membership
(1 January)[1]
Assembly and Council
Year Population Members % ±
On 1 January 1998, a new law came into effect 1998 272,381 244,893 89.91 0.00
defining the status of the Evangelical Lutheran Church
of Iceland and its relations to the government. The 1999 275,712 246,263 89.32 0.59
annual Church Assembly (Kirkjuþing) is now the 2000 279,049 247,420 88.67 0.65
highest legislative authority of the church, making most
2001 283,361 248,614 87.74 0.93
church law previously enacted by the Alþing. The
Kirkjuþing has 29 elected representatives, 12 ordained 2002 286,575 249,386 87.02 0.71
and 17 lay-people, and a lay President. 2003 288,471 249,645 86.54 0.48

The highest executive authority is the Church Council, 2004 290,570 250,176 86.10 0.44
Kirkjuráð, with two clergy and two lay-persons elected 2005 293,577 250,759 85.42 0.68
by the Kirkjuþing, and presided over by the Bishop of
2006 299,891 251,909 84.00 1.41
Iceland. The Bishop's Office in Church House in
Reykjavík also serves as the office of the Kirkjuráð. 2007 307,672 252,411 82.04 1.96
Besides dealing with financial matters and personnel, it 2008 315,459 252,708 80.11 1.93
also has departments of education and diaconia,
ecumenical affairs, church and society and 2009 319,368 253,069 79.24 0.87
communication. The church's publishing house is also 2010 317,630 251,487 79.18 0.06
situated in Church House.
2011 318,452 247,245 77.64 1.54
2012 319,575 245,456 76.81 0.83
Ministry and Synod
2013 321,857 245,184 76.18 0.63

After the Reformation, the Icelandic church retained the 2014 325,671 244,440 75.06 1.12
two traditional dioceses of Skálholt and Hólar until 2015 329,100 242,743 73.76 1.30
1801, when the sees were united into a single
bishopric. The bishop of Iceland is based in Reykjavík, 2016 332,529 237,938 71.55 2.21
where the cathedral and bishop's office are located. 2017 338,349 236,481 69.89 1.66
New bishops were traditionally consecrated by Danish
2018 348,580 234,215 67.22 2.67
bishops until 1908 when, with growing demands for
independence from Denmark, the outgoing bishop 2019 356,991 232,591 65.15 2.07
consecrated his own successor.[9] 2020 364,134 231,112 63.47 1.68

In 1909, two assistant or suffragan bishoprics 2021 368,792 229,669 62.28 1.19
(vígslubiskup) were created by reviving the old 2022 376,248 229,148 60.90 1.38
episcopal sees of Skálholt and Hólar. Although they are
2023 387,758 227,266 58.61 2.29
not diocesan bishops, they are responsible for the
cathedrals of their sees and the building up of these as
centres of study and spirituality. In 1990, new legislation was passed to give the suffragan bishops greater
responsibility as assistants to the bishop of Iceland in pastoral matters[9] and together the three bishops form
the Bishops' Council.
Annually, the bishop summons all the pastors and theologians of the church to the Pastoral Synod, to
discuss the affairs of the church and society. The synod has a say in all matters of theology and liturgy to be
decided by the bishop and Kirkjuþing. There are about 150 priests and 27 ordained deacons in the church.
Fourteen priests work in non-parochial ministries in hospitals and other institutions. The Church of Iceland
also has priests serving Icelandic congregations abroad.

Local parishes

There are about 300 Lutheran parishes nationwide. Each parish is a financially independent unit,
responsible for the construction and upkeep of its church buildings and all the work of the congregation.
Besides worship services, parish work covers wide range of educational and diaconal activities, children
and youth work. In rural areas several parishes may be served by the same priest.

Theological education

The theological faculty of the University of Iceland, founded in 1911, educates the clergy (priests and
deacons) for the Lutheran Church. Many theologians go abroad for further studies in seminaries and
universities on both sides of the Atlantic. The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Iceland is far from being
isolated and is open to all contemporary influences and theological trends.

Ecumenical alliances
The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Iceland is a member of the Lutheran World Federation, the World
Council of Churches, the Conference of European Churches, and the Communion of Protestant Churches
in Europe. In 1995 the church signed the Porvoo Communion Statement, entering into full communion (a
close relationship with acknowledgement of shared doctrines and common ministries) with the Nordic and
Baltic Lutheran churches and the Anglican Churches of the British Isles.[10]

The Missionary Federation of Iceland in cooperation with the Norwegian Missionary Federation has
operated missions in China, Ethiopia, and Kenya. The Icelandic Church Aid has worked in cooperation
with international agencies in relief and development work in various parts of the world.

The church has historical connections with the other Nordic churches including the Church of Sweden,
Church of Norway, Church of Finland, and its former parent church, the Church of Denmark. All Nordic
state churches are of the Lutheran Christian tradition.

See also
Church of Denmark
Church of the Faroe Islands
Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland
Church of Norway
Church of Sweden

References
1. "Populations by religious and life stance organizations 1998–2023" (https://px.hagstofa.is/px
en/pxweb/en/Samfelag/Samfelag__menning__5_trufelog__trufelog/MAN10001.px).
 Statistics Iceland. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20220920173037/https://px.hagstof
a.is/pxen/pxweb/en/Samfelag/Samfelag__menning__5_trufelog__trufelog/MAN10001.px)
from the original on 20 September 2022. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
2. "Home page" (http://www.kirkjan.is/english/). Evangelical Lutheran Church of Iceland.
Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20230611155745/https://www.kirkjan.is/english/) from
the original on 11 June 2023. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
3. "Agnes M Sigurdardóttir is first woman elected as bishop in Iceland" (https://web.archive.org/
web/20150610220135/http://www.zonta.org/MemberResources/Messages/MessageView/ta
bid/194/ArticleId/167/Agnes-M-Sigurdardottir-is-first-woman-elected-as-bishop-in-Iceland.as
px). Zonta International. 15 May 2012. Archived from the original (http://www.zonta.org/Memb
erResources/Messages/MessageView/tabid/194/ArticleId/167/Agnes-M-Sigurdardottir-is-firs
t-woman-elected-as-bishop-in-Iceland.aspx) on 10 June 2015. Retrieved 11 January 2013.
4. Karlsson, Gunnar. History of Iceland. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 2000, pp.
33–34.
5. "Þjóðskrá/Registers Iceland – Skráningar í trú- og lífsskoðunarfélög í apríl 2021" (https://ww
w.skra.is/um-okkur/frettir/frett/2021/04/08/Skraningar-i-tru-og-lifsskodunarfelog-i-april-2021/).
Skra.is. 2021. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20210423105801/https://www.skra.is/u
m-okkur/frettir/frett/2021/04/08/Skraningar-i-tru-og-lifsskodunarfelog-i-april-2021/) from the
original on 23 April 2021. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
6. Church of Iceland (https://web.archive.org/web/20081229011528/http://www.kirkjan.is/node/
8313), kirkjan.is, archived from the original (http://kirkjan.is/node/8313) on 29 December
2008, retrieved 24 January 2008
7. Þjóðarpúls Gallup 2004, see the poll archive
8. "First Lesbian Couple in Iceland "Marries" in Church" (https://web.archive.org/web/2016030
4121918/http://icelandreview.com/news/2008/07/02/first-lesbian-couple-iceland-marries-chu
rch). Iceland Review. Archived from the original (http://icelandreview.com/news/2008/07/02/fi
rst-lesbian-couple-iceland-marries-church) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 16 June 2015.
9. Hugason, Hjalti (1993). Together in Mission and Ministry: The Porvoo Common Statement,
With, Essays on Church and Ministry in Northern Europe (Section: Episcopacy in our
churches – Iceland) (First ed.). Church House Publishing. ISBN 0715157507.
10. "The Porvoo Communion" (https://web.archive.org/web/20120305095031/http://www.porvoo
churches.org/contacts/output03.php). Porvoo Churches. Archived from the original (http://ww
w.porvoochurches.org/contacts/output03.php) on 5 March 2012. Retrieved 11 January 2013.
"The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Iceland signed the Porvoo Agreement at its General
Synod on 17–27 October 1995."

Further reading
Hjalti Hugason. 2019. "Aðskilnaður ríkis og kirkju: Upphaf almennrar umræðu 1878–1915."
Ritröð Guðfræðistofnunar 47/2018, bls. 44–71 44. (https://ojs.hi.is/ritrodgudfraedistofnunar/ar
ticle/view/2887/1632)

External links
Official website (http://kirkjan.is/) (in Icelandic)
Official website (http://kirkjan.is/english/) (in English)

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