Sigurbjörn Einarsson

Sigurbjörn was born in {{ill|Meðalland|is}} in Vestur-Skaftafellssýsla, where his father, Magnús Kristinn Einar Sigurfinnsson, was a farmer. His mother was Gíslrún Sigurbergsdóttir. After graduating in 1931 from Menntaskólinn í Reykjavík, he studied in Sweden, qualifying in Greek, Classical studies, and history at Uppsala University in 1936 and earning his cand. phil. from Stockholm University in 1937. In 1938, he received a doctorate in theology from the University of Iceland. He pursued postgraduate studies at Uppsala in New Testament studies in 1939, at Cambridge University in religious studies in summer 1945, and at various institutions including the University of Basel in winter 1947–48.[http://www.mbl.is/mm/frettir/innlent/2008/08/28/sigurbjorn_einarsson_latinn/ "Sigurbjörn Einarsson biskup látinn"], Morgunblaðið, 28 August 2008 {{In lang|is}}. Also [https://www.visir.is/g/2008487775514/p/p/askorun "Dr. Sigurbjörn Einarsson er látinn"], Dagblaðið Vísir, 28 August 2008 {{In lang|is}}.

Ordained in September 1938, Sigurbjörn was parish priest at {{ill|Breiðabólstaður, Skógarströnd|lt=Breiðabólstaður|is|Breiðabólstaður (Skógarströnd)}} in Snæfellsnes from 1938 to 1941, when he became the first priest of Hallgrímskirkja in Reykjavík (prior to the construction of the present church).[https://www.hallgrimskirkja.is/is/frettir/sigurbjrn-einarsson-110 "Sigurbjörn Einarsson 110"], Hallgrímskirkja, 30 June 2021 {{in lang|is}}. From 1944 to 1959 he was on the theology faculty at the University of Iceland, becoming a professor in 1949. On 22 June 1959 he was consecrated as Bishop of Iceland by his predecessor, Ásmundur Guðmundsson;[https://timarit.is/page/1322572?iabr=on#page/n7/mode/2up "'Þú ert sannur, þú ert með sjálfum þér, ef þú ert miskunnsamur'"], Morgunblaðið, 23 June 1959, p. 8 {{in lang|is}}. in September 1981 he was succeeded by Pétur Sigurgeirsson.[https://timarit.is/page/3105570#page/n5/mode/2up "Biskupaskipti við hátíðlega athöfn"], Dagblaðið, 28 September 1981, pp. 6–7 {{in lang|is}}. He is credited with modernising the Church of Iceland, making it more ecumenical and international in outlook. He continued to preach and lead devotional activities in retirement.Guðni Einarsson, [https://timarit.is/page/4197089#page/n7/mode/2up "Boðberi breytinga: Sigurbjörn Einarsson"], Morgunblaðið, 29 August 2008, p. 8 {{in lang|is}}.

Sigurbjörn published numerous books, including textbooks on the history of religion and the psychology of religious life, an analysis of the Revelation of St. John, Trúarbrögð mannkyns, a second edition of which was published in 1978,[https://timarit.is/page/5206640#page/n63/mode/2up Review], Morgunn 60 (1979) 62–63 {{in lang|is}}. a biography of Albert Schweitzer published in 1955, translations including hymns and the Confessions of St. Augustine, and a children's book titled Af hverju, afi.Børge Nordbø, [https://snl.no/Sigurbj%C3%B6rn_Einarsson "Sigurbjörn Einarsson"], Store norske leksikon, 4 January 2021 {{in lang|no}}. Several of his sermons have been anthologised. He was also a prominent writer of hymns. Sálmar og ljóð Sigrbjörns biskups was published in 1996 and Eigi stjörnum ofar – sálmar og ljóð posthumously in 2008.Kolbrún Bergþórsdóttir, [https://timarit.is/page/5234062#page/n25/mode/2up "Talaði beint til fólksins"], Morgunblaðið, 14 December 2008, p. 26 {{in lang|is}}.

Sigurbjörn was awarded honorary doctorates in theology by the University of Iceland in 1961 and the University of Winnipeg in 1975. He was made an honorary member of the Association of Icelandic Clergy in 1978, the {{ill|Association of Icelandic Writers|is|Félag íslenskra rithöfunda}} in 1981, the Icelandic Bible Society in 1982, and the Clergy Association of Suðurland in 1987. He was awarded the Grand Knight's Cross of the Icelandic Order of the Falcon in June 1959,[https://timarit.is/page/2348225#page/n0/mode/2up "Biskupar heiðraðir"], Vísir, 23 June 1959, p. 1 {{in lang|is}}. the Grand Knight's Cross with Star in January 1968,[https://timarit.is/page/1391035#page/n4/mode/2up/ "Sæmdir heiðursmerkjum"], Morgunblaðið, 4 January 1968 {{in lang|is}} and the Grand Cross in June 1968.[https://timarit.is/page/2634874#page/n5/mode/2up "Sæmdir heiðursmerki"], Alþýðublaðið, 23 June 1968, p. 6 {{in lang|is}}.[https://www.forseti.is/f%c3%a1lkaor%c3%b0an/orduhafaskra/ Name search], Fálkaorðan, Office of the President of Iceland {{in lang|is}}.

In memory of Sigurbjörn, in 2008 the Church of Iceland instituted Stofnun dr. Sigurbjörns Einarssonar (The Icelandic Institute for Religion and Reconciliation).[https://www.stofnunsigurbjorns.is/stofnunin/ "Stofnunin"], Stofnun dr. Sigurbjörns Einarssonar, retrieved 5 October 2023 {{in lang|is}}.

Sigurbjörn was married to Magnea Þorkelsdóttir from 1933 until her death in 2006. They had eight children, among them Karl Sigurbjörnsson, who was also Bishop of Iceland, and Þorkell Sigurbjörnsson, a composer. He died in Landspítali in Reykjavík at the age of 97.

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Sigurbjorn Einarsson

Category:21st-century Icelandic Lutheran clergy

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Category:Academic staff of the University of Iceland

Sigurbjorn Einarsson