Sigurbjörn Einarsson
The Right Reverend Sigurbjörn Einarsson | |
---|---|
Icelandic | |
Denomination | Lutheran |
Parents | Einar Sigurfinnsson & Gíslrún Sigurbergsdóttir |
Spouse | Magnea Þorkelsdóttir |
Children | 8 including Þorkell Sigurbjörnsson, Karl Sigurbjörnsson |
Alma mater |
Sigurbjörn Einarsson (30 June 1911 – 28 August 2008) was an
Early life and education
Sigurbjörn was born in
Career
Ordained in September 1938, Sigurbjörn was parish priest at Breiðabólstaður in Snæfellsnes from 1938 to 1941,[1] when he became the first priest of Hallgrímskirkja in Reykjavík (prior to the construction of the present church).[2] From 1944 to 1959 he was on the theology faculty at the University of Iceland, becoming a professor in 1949.[1] On 22 June 1959 he was consecrated as Bishop of Iceland by his predecessor, Ásmundur Guðmundsson;[3] in September 1981 he was succeeded by Pétur Sigurgeirsson.[4] He is credited with modernising the Church of Iceland, making it more ecumenical and international in outlook.[5] He continued to preach and lead devotional activities in retirement.[1][6]
Publications
Sigurbjörn published numerous books, including textbooks on the history of religion and the psychology of religious life, an analysis of the Revelation of St. John, Trúarbrögð mannkyns, a second edition of which was published in 1978,[7] a biography of Albert Schweitzer published in 1955, translations including hymns and the Confessions of St. Augustine, and a children's book titled Af hverju, afi.[1][5] Several of his sermons have been anthologised.[6] He was also a prominent writer of hymns. Sálmar og ljóð Sigrbjörns biskups was published in 1996 and Eigi stjörnum ofar – sálmar og ljóð posthumously in 2008.[8]
Honours and legacy
Sigurbjörn was awarded
In memory of Sigurbjörn, in 2008 the Church of Iceland instituted Stofnun dr. Sigurbjörns Einarssonar (The Icelandic Institute for Religion and Reconciliation).[13]
Personal life and death
Sigurbjörn was married to Magnea Þorkelsdóttir from 1933 until her death in 2006. They had eight children, among them Karl Sigurbjörnsson, who was also Bishop of Iceland, and Þorkell Sigurbjörnsson, a composer.[1] He died in Landspítali in Reykjavík at the age of 97.[1]
References
- ^ Dagblaðið Vísir, 28 August 2008 (in Icelandic).
- ^ "Sigurbjörn Einarsson 110", Hallgrímskirkja, 30 June 2021 (in Icelandic).
- ^ "'Þú ert sannur, þú ert með sjálfum þér, ef þú ert miskunnsamur'", Morgunblaðið, 23 June 1959, p. 8 (in Icelandic).
- ^ "Biskupaskipti við hátíðlega athöfn", Dagblaðið, 28 September 1981, pp. 6–7 (in Icelandic).
- ^ Store norske leksikon, 4 January 2021 (in Norwegian).
- ^ a b Guðni Einarsson, "Boðberi breytinga: Sigurbjörn Einarsson", Morgunblaðið, 29 August 2008, p. 8 (in Icelandic).
- ^ Review, Morgunn 60 (1979) 62–63 (in Icelandic).
- ^ Kolbrún Bergþórsdóttir, "Talaði beint til fólksins", Morgunblaðið, 14 December 2008, p. 26 (in Icelandic).
- ^ "Biskupar heiðraðir", Vísir, 23 June 1959, p. 1 (in Icelandic).
- ^ "Sæmdir heiðursmerkjum", Morgunblaðið, 4 January 1968 (in Icelandic)
- ^ "Sæmdir heiðursmerki", Alþýðublaðið, 23 June 1968, p. 6 (in Icelandic).
- ^ Name search, Fálkaorðan, Office of the President of Iceland (in Icelandic).
- ^ "Stofnunin", Stofnun dr. Sigurbjörns Einarssonar, retrieved 5 October 2023 (in Icelandic).
External links
- Media related to Sigurbjörn Einarsson at Wikimedia Commons