Geir Vídalín

Geir Vídalín Jónsson (27 October 1761 – 20 September 1823) was an Icelandic prelate who was the last diocesan Bishop of Skálholt from 1797 till 1801 when he became the first Bishop of Iceland. [1]

The Right Reverend

Geir Vídalín
Bishop of Iceland
ChurchChurch of Iceland
DioceseIceland
AppointedNovember 1801
In office1801-1823
SuccessorSteingrímur Jónsson
Orders
Ordination8 January 1791
Consecration30 July 1797
by Sigurður Stefánsson
Personal details
Born(1761-10-27)27 October 1761
Laufás, Eyjafjörður, Iceland
Died20 September 1823(1823-09-20) (aged 61)
Reykjavik, Iceland
NationalityIcelandic
DenominationLutheran
ParentsJón Jónsson & Sigríður Magnúsdóttir
SpouseSigríður Halldórsdóttir
Children4
Previous postBishop of Skálholt (1797-1801)

Biography

Geir was the son of Jón Jónsson a priest in Laufás, and Sigríður Magnúsdóttir. He graduated from the University of Copenhagen in 1789 and became a cathedral priest in Reykjavík and lived in Lambastaðir at Seltjarnarnes. He was elected Bishop of Skálholt after the death of Hannes Finnsson in 1796. He was consecrated by the Bishop of Hólar Sigurður Stefánsson on 30 July 1797. He did, however, remain at Lambastaðir, planning to relocate the diocese to Reykjavík. After the death of Stefánsson, no new successor was appointed to Hólar and the two Icelandic dioceses were amalgamated into the united Diocese of Reykjavik in November 1801, with Geir Vídalín as the first bishop. Geir's wife was Sigríður Halldórsdóttir who died in 1846.[2]

References
  1. "Úr ævum lærðra manna – Geir biskup Vídalín", Lesbók Morgunblaðsins, Reykjavik, 10 February 1963. Retrieved on 05 September 2019.
  2. "Geir Vídalín Jónsson". ismus.is. Retrieved 5 September 2019.
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