Baring-Gould’s sources: Icelandic Necrology. Authorities: — Three Sagas, the elder Saga, written about iaoo, that of Gunnlaug the monk, written about 1203, originally in Latin, but it was translated into Icelandic, and the original has not survived. Arngrim, the abbot, in 1350, says of this Saga, "This Gunnlaug composed in Latin the life of the blessed John, first bishop of Holar; and he testifies, in the prologue of his work, that he undertook to do so at the prayer of Gudmund, bishop of Holar." In the Icelandic version, where the author speaks in the first person, the translator has added, "says brother Gunnlaug/’ or, "so says Gunnlaug the monk.’’ The author, In mentioning the pupils of S. John, observes, "All the most learned men in the northern district were brought up at Holum, and many of the wisest scholars died in our days, and that I may mention some of his best pupils whom I have myself seen — ** he names several. That the two Sagas were written independently of each other is abundantly evident. The third Saga is much more modern, and is of little importance. They are all published in the original Icelandic in the Bishupa Sbgur, Copenhagen, 1858. No translation exists.] 1 The first resident bishop in Iceland was lslei£ son of Gizur. The episcopal residence was fixed at Skalholt, in 1084, and later still, in 1102, a second bishopric was erected at Holar, by B. Gizur, who saw the necessity for dividing his enormous diocese. The north of Iceland, which is the most populous portion of the island, is cut off from the south by a vast belt of desert and ice mountains, and Nature herself pointed out the necessity of separate organization for both political and ecclesiastical government A wealthy priest of the grassy valley of Hjaltadal, gave his paternal estate at Holar to the Church, and Gizur seized the opportunity for founding a second bishopric A suitable person to occupy the new and important position of first bishop of the north had to be discovered. By vote of 1 The Bollandists seem to have been wholly ignorant of the Icelandic Sagas and Saints, for they do not mention the latter nor quote the former. me a cloak last winter; may I do with it what I choose ?” The king looked angrily towards him, and told him to act as he thought proper. Then John went to the young man, and fastened the cloak round him, and fixed the hood to his shoulders. So Gisli was hung in the king's mantle, and the disgrace of the death was by this proceeding, in the eyes of the Norsemen, changed into an honour. The rest of the day the king was in high ill-humour. The audacity of the Icelanders had thoroughly ruffled his temper. John, however, had not done with Gisli. He went, when all was quiet, to the gallows, on the plea that he sought his cloak. At this point Gunnlaug introduces an incident which is not recorded in the Elder Saga, and he does it, he says, on the authority of certain wise men, but he candidly admits that the story does not find favour with every one, for, he says, many people assert that Gisli was not hung at all, but that John managed at the last moment to persuade the king to spare his life. The story, such as it is, is this: John went to the gallows, walked thrice round it, the way of the sun, genuflexed thrice, and down dropped the man. Gisli was not dead, but was unable to walk. This incident admits of explanation without having recourse to miraculous interference. John had been allowed to arrange his cloak and hood round the neck of the lad before he was suspended, and he might well have so protected the throat that it was relieved from the full pressure of the cord. The Saga writer says that there are many different versions of this event Some say that Gisli hung from Monday till Thursday, but, he adds, written accounts favour that which asserts that Gisli's life was spared by the intercession of John Ogmundson.
John was shortly after sent by Magnus on an embassy to Ireland, to the king of Munster, whom the Saga calls Myrkjartan, and Snoiro Sturlason in the Heimskringla, Moriartak. 1 The object of this mission was the betrothal of Sigurd, the Norse king's son, aged nine, to Bjadminja, daughter of the king of Munster, aged five. A droll circumstance is related in connexion with this expedition. John, who knew nothing of Erse, was obliged to provide himself with an interpreter, and selected a man who made protestations of his familiarity with the Irish language, but who had, in fact, acquired little more than an Irish mode of making blunders.
The interpreter on approaching the king addressed him with the salutation, “ Male diarik " (go mal ole duit a righ), which Gunnlaug tells us means, “ Bad luck to you, king !” And the king laughing, replied, “Olgeira ragul” (ole re hoidhche, or dhul), or, “ It is ill travelling by night," meaning that when a man is in ignorance he may easily make mistakes. 9 John was with king Magnus when he visited Iona. The king was then harrying the coasts of Scotland, but he spared the holy island. “It is told," says the Heimskringla, “that the king opened the door ot the little Columb's Kirk there, but he did not go in, but instandy locked the door again, and said that no one should be so bold as to enter that church Hereafter, which has been the case ever since." Nothing further of importance is recorded of John, till he returned to Iceland with Saemund the Learned, the collector of the Elder Edda, whose friendship he had made abroad. Shortly after his return John married, being then 1 Undoubtedly Muircheartach, king of Munster, though the Sagas cadi him kin£ of Connaught. In 1096 Ruaidbri O'Conor was king of Connaught, and Muircheartach O’Brien, king of Munster, and also king of Erin. Moreover, the O’Conors did not affect the name of Muircheartach.
2 The Icelandic writer spelt the Erse phonetically. His "male” is m’o/c, a compact conversational form of go mal ole. In the king's reply the koidkche may seem a crux; but as it is pronounced simply Jut, the difficulty vanishes. The sentence would sound ole re hte a ghul % which is the Norseman’s “ olgeira ragul.” in priest's orders [ordination; “orders” means the sacrament by which deacons, priests and bishops are ordained]; his wife died shortly after, and he then married again.
Iceland had hitherto been governed by one Bishop, but the necessity of there being a second prelate in the island had become so apparent, that Gizur, Bishop of Skalholt, urged on the island parliament the creation of a second see; and when this was agreed to by the popular voice, John Ogmundsonwas nominated to be the first Bishop of the North. Gizur immediately sent John to Denmark to be consecrated by the Bishop of Lund. An amusing story is related of his arrival. It seems that the clergy and choristers of the cathedral of Lund were in the habit of turning their heads to look down the nave whenever the door opened and any one entered the church.
Bishop Ozzur disapproved of this exhibition of inattention and curiosity, and rebuked his choir for it, ordering them on no account in future to stare about them during the performance of Divine worship. John, the Bishop Elect of Holar, arrived late in the day at Lund, and he and his party went at once to the cathedral, where vespers were just ending. John had a beautiful tenor voice, and he sang with such exquisite sweetness that the archbishop turned his head, and looked down the nave to see who was the performer. His clerks were down on him at once. “ How now, Sir Archbishop ! you yourself are the first to break the rule you established." “You are right,” answered Ozzur; “ but there is this excuse to be made for me. I never before heard such a rich-toned voice, and I thought it was the voice of an angel, and not that of a man.” The archbishop invited John and his company to his house, and next morning John showed him the letters dimissory of Gizur, requesting the archbishop to consecrate him. Ozzur summoned his clergy, and after consultation made answer: “ Dearest brother, it seems to me that you Go ogle April a*] S. John of Holar.
are the best fitted person to occupy the position, and bear the honours of the episcopate, and I have no doubt that the see which will have you at its head will be blessed. However, I hesitate on one point. You have been twice married, and, under these circumstances, I dare not venture on consecrating you without orders from the apostolic chair. Now we advise you to go to Rome and see the pope yourself, and we will write to him, and if, as we believe, he will grant a dispensation, then come back as fast as you can, and in God's name I will consecrate you bishop.” John accordingly visited Paschal II., who raised no objection, and at once issued the necessary bull to Ozzur to consecrate. On the return of John to Denmark, he was consecrated by the archbishop of Lund on a Sunday, two days before the feast of SS. Philip and James, 1106 (April 29th). We are told that Ozzur gave John much good advice, which was affectionately and humbly received, and then the new bishop sailed for Norway, where he purchased a ship's load of wood for church building, and then made for Iceland. He landed at Eyrar on the south coast, at the end of the summer, and his arrival caused general rejoicing. His friends and relatives in the south unloaded the ship, and flitted the timber as far as Vinverjadal, and the people of the north transported it thence to Holar. A more imposing situation for a cathedral chinch than Holar can scarcely be found. The valley of Hjaltadal is perhaps the richest in the whole island. It is regarded as the garden of the north. The broad green meadows, out of which rises the knoll on which stands Holar, are watered by a clear river, and by countless foaming streams that rise among the glacier ranges, locking the valley in on every side, except the north, where it declines to the blue expanse of the Skagafjord, which opens into the Polar Sea. In after ages the church became very wealthy, and the bishops of Holar possessed three hundred farms, pasturage for 15,000 cows, and the driftwood along a considerable line of coast; besides these, they owned the island of Drangey, and two tolfaringir, the largest-sized Icelandic vessels. The present church is modern, having been erected during the last century; within its porch lies the old bell of Holar minster, cracked. It is reported to have tolled of itself when John Amason, the last bishop, was executed by orders of that monster of cruelty and impiety, Christian III., who stamped the Church out in blood throughout his realm. But the ancient altar of stone belonging to the original minster remains, and on it is a venerable embroidered altar-cloth, whereon is figured John Ogmundson, vested in white alb with blue apparel, red and yellow striped dalmatic, blue stole with brown fringe, blue chasuble with red orphrey, and violet mitre, holding a pastoral staff in one hand and giving benedition with the other. John spent the winter of 1106-7 at Holar, and next spring went south to the Althing, where he met bishop Gizur. Their meeting was like that of two brothers. On his return from the council he began to repair, and to a great extent rebuild, the ruinous church which already existed at Holar. For his master workman he selected one Thorodd Gamlason. He also organized a school, and set over it a young man named Gisli Finnson, whom he had brought with him from Gothland, a person of great ability and learning, and of exceeding piety. A curious circumstance is mentioned in connexion with him: — “ When Master Gisli spoke God's word to the people on holidays, then he did not preach without a book, nor rely on his own memory, but he sought out the writings of the Holy Fathers, and read from the book that lay on the lectern before him. This he did on account of his great humility, as he was a young man; but those who listened thought it more profitable to have instruction from holy and remarkable books, than from his own head and heart" Yet he was perfectly able to speak extempore with fluency. “ His teaching was without vain-glorious or pompous wording, and therefore God's power followed his speaking, and penetrated all hearts, and much amendment and great good results followed his exhortations. His instructions were delivered with great gentleness, though they were easy to be understood by all good men, yet to the learned they were full of instruction, and afforded pleasure; he could also reprove those who were bad, and cause them to fear. The consequence was, that on holidays, a crowd innumerable attended church, inflamed with zeal, and hungering with all desire to be satisfied with the food of life, which is the Word of God, for they had now the opportunity of hearing either the beautiful teaching of the bishop himself, or of the Goth, Gisli.”
During the summer Master Gisli taught the scholars in the open air, sitting, doubtless, under the south wall of the old church, where they were sheltered from the keen blasts vhich sweep from the ocean. A charming picture surely; before them the great amphitheatre of glaciers shining like burnished silver; at their feet the rich grass spangled with potentilla; and hard by, Thorodd, the builder, chipping the pine beams that are to serve as pillars in the new minster. This Thorodd is a shrewd man, and as he chips and chops day by day in the bright sun, with the scholars repeating their lessons hard by, he learns along with them, and by the time that Holar cathedral is built Thorodd knows Latin grammar as well as any of them.
John laboured to edify his flock as well as to build up his cathedral He kept ever before him as his favourite maxim, “ Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” He was cheerful towards all, but did not shrink from boldly rebuking vice. He urged his people to attend Divine worship on all holy days, and he bade the priests teach the congregation their portions of the service, that they might respond with intelligence. He exhorted all to visit a church or a cross daily, and there to offer up their private prayers and desires. He taught them to use the sign of the cross before commencing any undertaking, and in any temptation. He bade them, on first waking, after having signed themselves, repeat the Creed, and so confess their faith in Almighty God. Before eating and drinking they were likewise, by using this sign, to offer to God a recognition that it was from His hand that all good gifts came. He advised every one to acquire by heart the Creed and the Lord's Prayer, and to repeat them seven times a day, singing them at least before going to rest Gunnlaug adds to the Creed and Lord's Prayer the Ave Maria.
He opposed vehemently all sacrifices to Thorr and Odin, and all witchcraft, all incantations and charms, all taking of omens from the moon or from animals. He found it necessary to alter the names of ihe days; and for Odin's-day, Thor's-day, Freya’s-day, and SurtuFs-day, to substitute the names Fourth-day f Mid-week, Fasting-day, and Washingday. He was strongly opposed to all licentious songs, and once, coming upon a young priest who was reading “ Ovid's Epistles and Art of Love,” he forbade him to read them, as it was his duty to keep a check on his passions, and not to excite them by lascivious poetry. The historian says, “ He loved all his people as brothers and children; he entered into all their joys, and sympathised with their sorrows. He was a father to the poor, and took care of the widow and the orphan.”
His next care was the formation of a cathedral chapter..S'. John of Holar. He collected about him men of pious and zealous dispositions, and settled them in his house, or in houses adjoining the new cathedral. The names of some of these are given: Rikinn was his chaplain; Gisli, master of the school; Hamund, Hjalti, a kinsman, and Orm Thorkelson were his canons. Some of these were employed in diocesan supervision, as archdeacons; some went about preaching and instructing the people; some attended to the wants of the poor; others again were attached to the cathedral and taught singing, and others attended on the guests. The chronicler gives an interesting sketch of the life of this little cathedral chapter. He says: “There was not a house in the great byre in which they were not engaged in some useful work. The old men instructed the younger, and the younger, who were being educated, wrote. All seemed to think alike, and there was no bickering, and none envied the other. And when the bells struck up, all fell at once into their places, and went to church, and there was nought to be heard in choir but fair songs and hallowed prayers. The elders behaved with great decorum, and the little boys followed the example of their masters, and showed no inattention. These men were brought up under the hand of the bishop, John Klcengr, afterwards bishop of Skalholt, a place he adorned with his learning, a man beloved of good people, — Vilmund, the first abbot of Thingeyri, Hreinn, the abbot, and Bjorn, who was third bishop of Holar, and many other good and learned men.”
Thus passed fifteen years, during which the bishop ruled the Church in the north of Iceland with gentleness and discretion. Towards the spring of 1121 he fell ill, of what complaint we are not told; but it is said that he enjoyed his faculties to the last.
During his sickness one of his old pupils, then a priest in Knappadal, visited him. He had with him a book which TApril 23.
he had written for another priest, and there was some doubt as to what was its market value, so that it had been decided by the two priests that the bishop should name the price which was to be paid for it When the Knappadal priest entered the room where the dying prelate lay, John said, “ Come to me, my son, and kiss your father with the kiss of peace, as your brethren have done;” so the priest went up to him and kissed him, and then asked him to value the manuscript John took the book and turned over the leaves with his fingers, and said, “It is well written, but he who was to have purchased it will not have it” “ Why so, my father? He offered to buy it at the price you fixed.” But the bishop answered, “ He for whom you wrote the book is dead.” And this was so.
The bishop's appetite failed, and he became very weak; but he never failed to recite his office, night and day. And when he was anointed, all his clerks stood round him, and all his scholars were gathered at the foot of his bed. Then, when he had received Extreme Unction, the Holy Eucharist was given to him, and he lifted up his voice and chanted the Communion hymn, “ Refecti, Domine, pane ccelesti, ad vitam quaesumus nutriamus aetemam;” and then he began to sing the psalm, “I will always give thanks unto the Lord: His praise shall ever be in my mouth. My soul shall make her boast in the Lord; the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.” “ And,” says the Saga writer, “ as he had that psalm in his mouth, and was uttering these blessed words, his saintly spirit left his body, and was borne by angels to that joy which is prepared by Almighty God, where he may always give thanks unto Him, with other saints, and where, as he spake in the psalm, His praise shall ever be in his mouth.” He fell asleep on April 23rd, 1 1 21, aged sixty-nine. He was laid, in his pontifical vestment, with staff' in hand and mitre on his head, in a tomb to the south of the choir-school he had built April «,.) J>. Daniel.
