Church of Iceland
The Icelandic State Church is an Evangelical Lutheran church. At its head since 2012 is the Bishop of Iceland, as the first wife Agnes M. Sigurðardóttir, before about 24 years Karl Sigurbjörnsson.
History
After the Christianization of Iceland in the year 1000 there were two bishoprics Skálholt (since 1056 ) and Hólar (since 1106) which were subject first to the archbishopric of Bremen as Scandinavia, from 1104 the diocese of Lund, and finally the archbishopric of Nidaros (Trondheim ). During the Reformation, these bishoprics were dissolved in Rome and introduced the Lutheran doctrine. Already in 1536 had Christian III. of Denmark while the Evangelical Lutheran religion for his country, Norway and the Faroe Islands enforced. 1800, the bishopric was dissolved in Hólar which moved from Skálholt to Reykjavík. First bishop of Iceland was quite Geir Vídalín. The Constitution of 1874 granted full religious freedom in Iceland. However, they confirmed the Evangelical Lutheran Church as the state church. The largest church in Iceland, Hallgrímskirkja, was built 1929-1986 in Reykjavik. Head of the Icelandic State Church since mid-2012, Agnes M. Sigurðardóttir.
Organization
The Constitution of the Republic of Iceland ( Article 62) explicitly states:
- ( 1) The Evangelical Lutheran Church is the state church and as such is supported and protected by the state.
- ( 2) This determination may be modified by law.
The church fall with 245 184 church members around 76.2 % of all Icelanders (as of 2013).
She is a member of the Lutheran World Federation and stands by the Porvoo Agreement in communion with the Church of England and other Anglican and Lutheran churches. This allows for a mutual exchange of clergy. She has an excess of theologians. The ordination of women is practiced since 1947.