65° - 01.07.1968, Blaðsíða 14

Though this island lay close to the Arctic Ocean
and was much isolated till the beginning of this
century there were unbelievably many Icelanders
who went abroad in search of further education,
money, or prestige. Shortly after Luther’s re-
formation began in Germany, two such young
students became interested in the new religion and
were largely responsible for bringing it to Iceland.
One was Oddur Gottskalksson, son of a bishop of
Holar, who translated the New Testament into
Icelandic by working on it secretly in the cowshed
at Skalholt. The other was Gissur Einarsson, who
became the first Lutheran bishop in 1540.
Icelanders were under the power of Denmark
at this time and the Danish king had a great part
in forcing the new religion, for many accepted it
unwillingly. It cannot be denied that Catholicsm
dug its own grave. For a long time foreign bishops
had been here who thought more of wealth and
standing than the soul and bodily welfare of the
people. Either legally or illegally, the church held
a large part of the land and profited from many
concessions, laid heavy punishments, and collected
exhorbitant fines for relatively small offenses.
But as said before, the Catholic church was the
main pillar of culture.
The most powerful Lutheran bishop was Gu<5-
brandur Lorlaksson who sat at Holar for 56 years
(d. 1627). Among other things he was a well
known publisher, for Bishop Jon Arason had al-
ready introduced the first printing press to Ice-
land. GuSbrandur published the first Bible in
Iceland and it is doubtful whether any book has
been so well made, even today. It is said that the
bishop illustrated it himself. The cost of each
now is 100.000 kronur and 30—40 copies still
exist. One might say that GuSbrandur completed
the transition to Lutheranism.
Some time later came the most important reli-
gious poet of Iceland, Rev. Hallgrimur Petursson
(d. 1674). His 50 Passion Psalms have been re-
printed 60 times already, have been translated
into English and Chinese and are sung each Holy
Week on the Icelandic radio. His funeral psalm
is still used after 300 years for Icelanders buried
at home and abroad. The sermons of a later
bishop, Jon Vidalin, were read in most Icelandic
homes for 200 years. Another psalm maker of
note was Matthias Jochumsson who composed
the National Anthem.
The Lutheran church was the successor of the
Catholic church as the main cultural influence
in Iceland. Till 1800, the only schools in the land
were those at the bishoprics of Skalholt and Holar.
They were clerical schools and had much in-
fluence on the culture. The ambitious or well-to-do
sons seeking further education abroad could com-
mand a good choice of parish on their return.
Many parish priests kept schools and have con-
tinued to do so. Some prepared men entirely for
priesthood and some supplied general education
even up to university level. Many wives of clergy-
men gave handiwork and domestic instruction.
Pastors’ homes were generally the center of every
community, for though each priest was in charge
of more than one church, the main church was
on his home land. Then it was also the fashion
for parishoners to receive coffee after mass and
discuss the affairs of the land and of daily living.
The priests farmed for a living since their pay
was very low, and more often in goods rather
than in money. This arrangement made the priests
one with the people, and they suffered and pros-
pered together. They visited the farmfolk yearly
and knew the lives of each of their congregation
thoroughly. Because of their education, which
today would be thought rather small, they were
better fitted for advising and helping. Some acted
as doctors, others were prominent in local ad-
ministration matters. It is interesting that no class
had more representitives in the Aljring in those
days than priests. It must be understood that
priests were more revered for their ability in
practical matters than for their brilliance in the
pulpit, and that Iceland has had many clergymen
whose importance as theologians has been ignor-
ed. Likewise, many clergymen have been ap-
preciated as enterpreneurs as well as scientists
and authors.
Icelandic clerical dress and its form of mass
stems from the Danish and is still similar in both
lands, but there are some differences between
the church in Iceland and in other Scandinavian
countries. There has never been a religious revival
in Iceland. The church has slipped along un-
changed for centuries without any ripples or
waterfalls, and most of the time has been very
placid regarding dogma. Essential theological dis-
putes have seldom taken place and never caused
any storm. Little emphasis has been placed on
liturgy, although a movement in that direction
has been in evidence lately, which is surprising
when one considers that other countries are de-
manding less emphasis on ritual, even to the ex-
tent of dispensing with clerical robes.
In no land can a church be called so much a
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65 DEGREES