The Icelandic Canadian - 01.09.2000, Side 25

Vol. 56 #1
THE ICELANDIC CANADIAN
23
old, fierce gods. She felt a strong and com-
pelling Christian commitment to her God.
She remembered IPorbjorg's prophecy of long
ago and decided that she had another voyage
to undertake—a pilgrimage to Rome, to seek
absolution of her sins. This would be a jour-
ney over sea once again and then a long trek
overland, but Gudridur felt both spiritually
and physically fit to undertake such a venture.
By the time Gudridur returned from her
pilgrimage to Rome her son Snorri had built a
church at Glumboer. She became a nun and
lived the rest of her life as an anchoress, in
service to her God. Her descendants became
people of stature in Iceland with illustrious
positions of power and humanity. Over
E’orfinnur Karlsefni and Gudridur's descen-
dants shone a luminous light as foretold by
the prophetess P’orjborg, “And branches of
your family will be more illustrious than I
have the power to see and describe. ”
Gudridur Porbjardottir was a beautiful
and courageous woman of the Viking Age.
She was an explorer at heart and encouraged
and traveled with her husbands on voyages of
exploration. She gave birth to the first white
child in America. She would have been the
most traveled woman of her time for she
sailed the Northern Seas eight times, in addi-
tion to her long trek across Europe to Rome.
Her life story is intertwined with the Vinland
explorations. Her gracious demeanor and out-
standing personality shone through her
endeavours.
Footnote
As part of the Millennium
Celebrations a beautiful bronze statue of
Gudridur and Snorri was unveiled in
Ottawa on April 12, 2000. This gift from
Iceland was brought over by Eimskip. At
the presentation ceremony five hundred
children, who had been educated in the his-
torical significance of the occassion were
present. The unveiling was very meaning-
ful to all.
Bibliography
Vinland Voyages by Roy H. Ruth
1965.
The Saga of Eirikur the Red is some-
times called the Saga of Porfinnur
Karlsefni.
The Saga of the Greenlanders
Translated by Emil Bjarnason.
Geislar Yfir Kynkvislum by
Hallgrimur Jonasson translated by David
Gislason.
Gudrid's Saga by Constance Irwin
1974.
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