Christmas

Bessastadir, the presidential residence in Iceland, was first mentioned in the Saga of the Icelanders by 13th century chieftain Sturla Thórdarson. At that time Bessastadir belonged to poet-historian Snorri Sturluson. When he died, the King of Norway appropriated the site and it became the first land in Iceland held by the king. Churches have stood at Bessastadir since 1000 AD. The current Church was consecrated in 1796. In 1956 it had stained-glass windows installed on the occasion of the 60th birthday of Ásgeir Ásgeirsson, the second president of the Republic. The stained-glass artwork was created by the artists Finnur Jónsson and Gudmundur Einarsson from Miðdalur. The artwork explores Iceland’s religious history, starting with the arrival of the Irish monks who are thought to be Iceland‘s first settlers. The motifs of the stamps are “The Sermon on the Mount” by Guðmundur from Miðdal and “Holy Mother of God” by Finnur Jónsson.