Today, Reykjavík’s Hallgrímskirkja marks the 40th anniversary of its consecration, commemorating a milestone for one of Iceland’s most recognised landmarks. The church was formally consecrated on 26 October 1986, four decades ago, according to RÚV, which first reported the story. The anniversary comes as tourism is reshaping life around the church. Its tower has since become a familiar part of the city’s skyline.
As a centre of community and worship, Hallgrímskirkja has also adapted to significant changes brought by tourism. The chair of the parish council said that traditional church work has been transformed by the influx of visitors, yet emphasised a welcoming stance, saying, “The church will never speak ill of tourists.” (RÚV, translated).
Meanwhile, Icelandic food culture is attracting international attention. Food writer and communications consultant Jordi Luque Sanz recently posted on Instagram praising Icelandic hverabrauð, a traditional geothermal rye bread made by Bjarki Hilmarsson. Hilmarsson is head chef at Hotel Geysir, and his hverabrauð is also served at ÓX in Reykjavík, according to mbl.is.
Sources
- mbl.is (first reported) in Icelandic
- RÚV in Icelandic
- RÚV English
Image: G. Edward Johnson / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0) · licence, original (resized) Illustrative image.
