Ísleifur Gissurarson

Isleifur Gissurarson (* 1006, † July 5, 1080 ) was the first bishop of Iceland and Greenland.

Christianization of Iceland

In the year 1000 the then Republic of Iceland adopted Christianity as the state religion by Act of Parliament. The Christianization had been initiated by the Irish brought with them slaves and their influence and strengthened by the sending of missionaries in the 10th century.

Training and ordination

Isleifur Gissurarson, the son of Þórdís Þóroddsdóttir and Gissur Teitsson from the Mosfellingar clan received his religious education in Northern Germany Herford and was consecrated by Archbishop Adalbert of Bremen for the first bishop of Iceland and Greenland, 1056.

Skálholt

He settled on the southern Icelandic Good Skálholt down, where his family owned reason, and founded the first Icelandic school. At the same time he also took over the Godentum from his father.

Family

His wife was Dalla Thorvaldsdóttir. With this he had three sons, Þorvaldur, Teitur and Gissur, which took over the office of bishop after the death of his father. One of his students was Jón Ögmundarson, who later served as Bishop of Hólar.

Death

As Isleifur died in Skálholt on 5 July 1080 he had there occupied for 24 years, the bishop's throne.

His son Gissur Ísleifsson followed him in office.