Gissur Ísleifsson

Gissur Ísleifsson (* 1042, † 1118) was, after the takeover of Christianity by the Icelanders in the year 1000, the second Bishop of Iceland. From 1106 he was a bishop in the Diocese of Skálholt in the south of the island. This year we had justified the northern Icelandic diocese Hólar.

Person

Gissur is described as tall, strong and good-natured.

Education and marriage

The father of Gissur was Isleifur Gissurarson, Bishop of Iceland.

As this study Gissur in Saxony in Herford Abbey and was still there ordained to the priesthood at a young age.

After he had returned home from there, he married Steinunn Þorgrímsdóttir (ca. 1042 - after 1118), who had been married in first marriage with Þórir Skegg - Broddason of court in Vopnafjörður. There, the couple lived at first.

The couple traveled extensively, undertook, among other pilgrimages to Rome. When his father, the bishop Isleifur Gissurason, in 1080, died Gissur was abroad, but in the summer it traveled to Iceland and was elected bishop.

Episcopal Ordination

However, the episcopal ordination was achieved only after some wanderings.

Gissur first went into Saxony country, because actually the responsible Archbishop of Bremen should consecrate him. This was there but just been relieved of his duties. Gissur continued his journey then continues in the direction of Rome. The Pope Gregory VII sent him to a meeting to Magdeburg, where he was finally consecrated in 1082 by Archbishop Hartwig bishop of Iceland.

Skálholt, as episcopal and school location

When he returned to Iceland, he and his father in Skálholt settled and after the death of his mother, he gave the land to the church

The church tithe in Iceland

Gissur was the strictest advocates the inclusion of the church tithe in Iceland and caused that this was approved by Parliament in 1097. He decreed for the purpose of the first census in Iceland.

Death and descendants

Gissur died 1118 in Skálholt, after he had worked for 36 years as a bishop.

He had several children. His daughter married Grøa Ketill Þorsteinsson, Bishop of Hólar.