Wednesday
June 10
- 4:00Check in
- 6:30Dinner
- 8:00Meeting
On June 10-12 this summer, a conference will be held in Skálholt on “The History of Christianity in Iceland”. The conference is open to all and participation is free. Christianity has had a profound impact on Icelandic society, from the adoption of Christianity in the year 1000 to the present day. It quickly became the basis for the nation’s laws, education and moral traditions. Monasteries and churches played a key role in preserving written culture, including by recording stories and manuscripts that are an important part of Icelandic heritage. Christian culture has influenced celebrations, arts and the nation’s identity to this day. But are we now losing this heritage? Is there reason to kick our feet and hold on to what has served the nation well? This and more will be discussed at the conference, which will be informative, open and interactive. Those interested in the nation’s Christian heritage and our culture should not miss the conference. Your contribution matters. The conference runs from the evening of Wednesday, June 10, until Friday, June 12. Participation is free, but two nights' accommodation in Skálholt and meals can be purchased for only 15,000 ISK. if purchased as a package. Icelandic speakers will present their talks in Icelandic, foreign speakers will be interpreted.
Join us at Skálholt. Conference is free. Conference package is 15,000 kr. and includes two nights accommodation and 5 meals. Accommodation is limited.
Frequently Asked Questions
Anyone is welcome to join us. If you have an interest in missions or Icelandic culture and history then this is definitely the event for you.
Hope to see you there this Summer!
Skálholt is about a hour and 20 minute drive from Reykjavik.
A schedule will be posted soon. Mornings will begin with breakfast together followed shortly by classes on Christian history and culture. We will take advantage of the outstanding historical and cultural sites at Skálholt.
The conference is free of charge. Limited accommodation is available for 5,000 kr. per night. Meals for those spending the night are 1,000 kr. each. Kaffi and meals in the restaurant will be menu prices.
Icelandic speakers will present in Icelandic. English speakers will be translated for the main session, but may or may not be translated in smaller groups. Sessions that are recorded will be available with subtitles in Icelandic and English after the conference on the Iceland Christian History YouTube page and at SagaKristnAIslandi.is
Accommodations are also available at Hotel Skálholt. This is less than a 10 minute walk or 2 minute drive from the conference center (Skálholtsbúðir) at Skálholt. Camping is available at Reykholt Campsite, a 10 minute drive from the conference center.
A former pastor in Vopnafjörður, Vestmannaeyjar and Akureyri for 41 years and a teacher in those places as well for 36 years.
Kjartan Jónsson worked for many years as a parish priest in Tjarnarprestakkall, which includes the Ástjarnar and Kálfatjarnar parishes. He served as a missionary for 12 years in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Kenya, where he gained extensive experience working in foreign cultures. In addition to his theology degree from HÍ, he is a missionary scholar, with a master's degree in theology from Fuller Theological Seminary, School of Intercultural Studies, and a doctorate in anthropology from the University of Iceland.
Vigfús Ingvar Ingvarsson was born in Borgarfjörður eystra in 1950 and grew up there. He graduated from Menntaskólinn á Akureyri in 1970 and earned his theology degree from the University of Iceland in 1976. He served as parish priest in Egilsstaðir and in Vallanes and Þingmúli from 1976 until the end of 2010. He edited the church journal Kirkjuritið for a time and has long been on the editorial board of Bjarmi. His studies have included a training stay in Minneapolis (1983), congregational theology in Hawaii (1988), and a year of study in Erlangen, Germany (1993–94). His focus has been on liturgical studies, New Testament theology, and religious movements on the fringes of Christianity. He has translated several books and has especially studied spiritual direction in Christianity (M.A. thesis on the gifts of spiritual discernment, published 2019, with a simplified edition forthcoming) and participates in the European Society for Spiritual Direction (SDE). He has worked on issues of Natural Church Development and translated books and online materials in that field. He wrote the book Það er alveg satt! on the life and work of the missionaries Kjellrun Langdal and Skúli Svavarsson. He has also studied the Celtic Christian tradition and written and translated articles from it. He lives in Egilsstaðir with his wife Ástríður Kristinsdóttir, a nurse; they have two grown daughters.
Joel Hernandez grew up in Mexico, the son of missionary parents. He graduated from Emmaus Bible College and Dallas Seminary. He and his wife Amy served in pastoral and outreach ministries among churches in California and Texas. They spent eight years church planting in Mexico and 15 years leading the missions program at Emmaus Bible College. Currently, Joel serves as vice president of communication at Christian Missions in Many Lands (CMML), and as executive director at OPAL. Both organizations have at their core the advancement of God's mission in the world.
Amy and her husband Joel were missionaries to Mexico for eight years. They currently reside in Marietta, SC where they live with their only daughter and her family. Amy enjoys knitting, jigsaw puzzles and teaching the Bible. She loves their four grandchildren and is passionate about sharing life with them. Amy has authored a book called “Unstuck: Moving beyond defeat”, a journey of living while dying to self.
June 10
June 11
June 12
10. júní
11. júní
12. júní
Iceland