The Church of Bessastašir

The stained windows in the church
at Bessastašir, the residence of the
presidents of Iceland, two of which
Įsgeir Įsgeirsson (1894-1972),
President 1952-1968, wished to
receive as a present from the Government
on occasion of his sixtieth birthday,
a memorable request.

The photo shows the Irish monks
sighting land, presumably at the
beginning of the 9th century,
the volcanic eruption
symbolizing Iceland -
"the first page of the history of
Christianity in Iceland, written
on coloured glass." To be more exact,
written by Finnur Jónsson
(1892-1993) who in1921-1922
became one of the first artists
in the world to adopt an
abstract style.

The unfinished altarpiece was made
by Gušmundur Thorsteinsson,
Muggur (1891-1924).