A Visit To Iceland And The Scandinavian North By Madame Ida Pfeiffer































































































 -   With this the ceremony within the church
was concluded, and the coffin was carried round the church to the
grave - Page 166
A Visit To Iceland And The Scandinavian North By Madame Ida Pfeiffer - Page 166 of 329 - First - Home

Enter page number    Previous Next

Number of Words to Display Per Page: 250 500 1000

With This The Ceremony Within The Church Was Concluded, And The Coffin Was Carried Round The Church To The Grave, Followed By The Priest And The Rest Of The Company.

This grave was deeper than any I had ever seen.

When the coffin had been lowered, the priest threw three handfuls of earth upon it, but none of the mourners followed his example. Among the earth which had been dug out of the grave I noticed four skulls, several human bones, and a board of a former coffin. These were all thrown in again upon the coffin, and the grave filled in presence of the priest and the people. One man trod the soil firm, then a little mound was made and covered with grass-plots which were lying ready. The whole business was completed with miraculous speed.

The little town of Skalholt, my station this night, was once as celebrated in religious matters as Thingvalla had been politically famous. Here, soon after the introduction of Christianity, the first bishopric was founded in 1098, and the church is said to have been one of the largest and richest. Now Skalholt is a miserable place, and consists of three or four cottages, and a wretched wooden church, which may perhaps contain a hundred persons; it has not even its own priest, but belongs to Thorfastadir.

My first business on arriving was to inspect the yet remaining relics of past ages. First I was shewn an oil-picture which hangs in the church, and is said to represent the first bishop of Skalholt, Thorlakur, who was worshipped almost as a saint for his strict and pious life.

Enter page number   Previous Next
Page 166 of 329
Words from 44117 to 44391 of 87606


Previous 166 167 168 169 170 171 172 173 174 175 Next

More links: First 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
 110 120 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200
 210 220 230 240 250 260 270 280 290 300
 310 320 Last

Display Words Per Page: 250 500 1000

 
Africa (29)
Asia (27)
Europe (59)
North America (58)
Oceania (24)
South America (8)
 

List of Travel Books RSS Feeds

Africa Travel Books RSS Feed

Asia Travel Books RSS Feed

Europe Travel Books RSS Feed

North America Travel Books RSS Feed

Oceania Travel Books RSS Feed

South America Travel Books RSS Feed

Copyright © 2005 - 2022 Travel Books Online