Munkaþverá
Encyclopedia
Munkaþverá was a Benedictine
monastery
in Eyjafjörður
, Iceland
. It was established around 1155 and was abolished when the country was reformed in 1550. The monastery is best known about its early Abbot Níkulás Bergsson and his famous publication Leiðarvísir og borgarskipan
, which was basically a guidebook for pilgrims about the routes from Northern Europe to Rome
and Jerusalem. The monastery once was the home of such heroes of saga literature as Einar Þveræingur, Víga-Glúmur and Bergur Sokkason. It is believed to be the burial place of Sighvatur Sturluson and his sons who died in the Battle of Örlygsstaðir
.
The current church in Munkaþverá is built in 1844. In front of the church, there is a memorial dedicated to Jón Arason
, who attended the monastery and did his studies there.
Benedictine
Benedictine refers to the spirituality and consecrated life in accordance with the Rule of St Benedict, written by Benedict of Nursia in the sixth century for the cenobitic communities he founded in central Italy. The most notable of these is Monte Cassino, the first monastery founded by Benedict...
monastery
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
in Eyjafjörður
Eyjafjörður
Eyjafjörður is the longest fjord in central northern Iceland. It is located in the second most populous region of Iceland.-Physical geography:...
, Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
. It was established around 1155 and was abolished when the country was reformed in 1550. The monastery is best known about its early Abbot Níkulás Bergsson and his famous publication Leiðarvísir og borgarskipan
Leiðarvísir og borgarskipan
The geographical chronicle Leiðarvísir og borgarskipan was published in c. 1157 AD by Níkulás Bergsson , the abbot of the monastery of Aþverá in Thingeyrar , Northern Iceland....
, which was basically a guidebook for pilgrims about the routes from Northern Europe to Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
and Jerusalem. The monastery once was the home of such heroes of saga literature as Einar Þveræingur, Víga-Glúmur and Bergur Sokkason. It is believed to be the burial place of Sighvatur Sturluson and his sons who died in the Battle of Örlygsstaðir
Battle of Örlygsstaðir
The Battle of Örlygsstaðir was a historic battle fought by the Sturlungar against Ásbirningar and the Haukdælir clans in northern Iceland. The battle was part of the civil war that was taking place in Iceland at the time between various powerful clans , and was the largest battle in the history of...
.
The current church in Munkaþverá is built in 1844. In front of the church, there is a memorial dedicated to Jón Arason
Jón Arason
Jón Arason was an Icelandic Roman Catholic bishop and poet, who was executed in his struggle against the imposition of the Protestant Reform in Iceland.-Background:...
, who attended the monastery and did his studies there.