JÓN And just what do you think these portents might signify, Guðmundur?

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1 And just what do you think these portents might signify, Guðmundur? GUÐMUNDUR I don t know... but something s very much amiss. Ólafur from Steinsmýri told me that he d seen these black and yellow striped flies as big as a man s thumb. That s very odd. I ve heard that a ewe at Hunkubakki gave birth to a lamb having talons instead of hooves. And on other farms cows and ewes have given birth to the most frightfully deformed calves and lambs. GUÐMUNDUR My mother, God rest her soul, would have seen all this as boding some ill, a plague for instance. Let s not allow our imagination to run away with us. Our strength lies in the Lord. The Creator of heaven and earth. GUÐMUNDUR Amen Well, Guðmundur, my good man, let us go to church. Thanks to the Lord s generosity we as a people have been blessed these past years. The weather has been favourable, the land fertile and the sea bountiful. But oh how it grieves me to witness the indiscipline, the neglect and lack of contrition that prevails amongst us. Here people live in the lap of luxury, eating and drinking to excess. Servants and vagrants are now so spoiled they turn their noses up at anything less than the very best. The abuse of alcohol and tobacco is so shamefully common that some clergymen are incapable of performing a church service without first fortifying themselves with drink.

2 Men are so prosperous they don t even know how much livestock they own. And yet they shamelessly try and evade paying taxes to the crown, church and clergy. There s a flagrant disregard for law and order all over.thievery has become almost respectible. And all this is born of greed/avarice, a sinful yearning for worldly goods. But mark my words, when man s pride/conceit soars to such dizzing/lofty heights then his fall will be all the greater. On Whitsun June 8th of 1783,the weather was unusually fine and calm. Suddenly around midday, north of the nearest mountains in the Síða district, a huge dark sandy cloud appeared. It was so enormous that within a short time it enveloped the entire area and it grew dark indoors. The ash that fell to the ground was like that from burnt coal and the rain drops were as black as ink. Thanks to a south westerly sea breeze the cloud became less dense as the day progressed. There beneath a clear sky the Lord allowed me to hold a church service for my flock in celebration of this holy day. But this is merely a brief respite. That night the earth shook violently. On the 10th of June the weather grew overcast. There was a heavy downpour which stung the eyes and caused dizziness. Some of the drops made holes on dock leaves and caused burns on the hides of newly shorn sheep. The Skaftá river had entirely dried up. The next day an icy cold wind blew from the east and the ash formed a hard crust on the ground just like sleet on a winter s day. The sand cloud was comprised of dark blue and sparkling threads, similar in length and thickness to that of a seal s hair. These threads covered the ground and on the sands the wind spun them into long hollow strands. Towards evening there was a torrential downpour from the cloud which is bittertasting and foul smelling. Those with weak lungs are left gasping for breath. Nesting birds fly away and fish are found dead in piles along the river banks. Iron becomes rusty red, tree branches are discoloured and the green summer grass wilts and dies.

3 On June 16th a powerful lava flow burst forth from the Skaftá river canyon with an intense crashing and rumbling like the firing of a battery of heavy cannon. The surging flow of fire spilled across and lay waste the farms of Á and Nes, as well as wooded pastureland. The cloud of sand and steam was now so immense it could be seem from every corner of the land. The sun appeared as a fiery red ball and the moon was crimson. Finally people realized that this terrible natural calamity is what the earlier portents were predicting. Páll from Mörtunga arrives with news of the eruption. PÁLL Three of us farmers from Mörtunga went to the highest point hereabouts to find out what we could. A most dreadful sight met our eyes. From north of the local mountains came a deafening exploding sound. We could see flames and smoke and the earth trembled violently beneath our feet. We at once feared for those living in the area. To see more we headed in the direction of the eruption. Our journey proved to be most difficult. The air was thick with fumes, making it hard to catch our breath. Þorleifur in particular had problems breathing and frequently had to stop and rest. But he soldiered on. Did you make it to the top of Kaldbakur mountain? PÁLL We did. Did you see where the lava was coming from? PÁLL That we most certainly did. We could make out 22 large fires shooting flames straight up to the heavens from the canyon like 22 giant candles. It s as though the ground has ripped wide open. The heat coming from the lava seems to be tremendous. My two companions, Þorleifur and Þorsteinn, feared that the advancing fire would likely force its way through the mountains.

4 I m aware that many share that fear. Today I took a walk to Skál to check on the church. That s when I saw a new lava flow had started. As an experiment I threw some boulders into the river of lava. They didn t melt so I m convinced the mountain rock hereabouts should be able to withstand the heat. PÁLL Let s hope to God you re right, Reverend. As we made our way back down Kaldbakur mountain we came upon two men cowering in fear of their lives. These two have been living together on a shieling up on the heath in Geirland. They had been so afraid upon seeing the flames rise above the heath that they immediately fled. We enquired if they wished to join us but they declined the offer. The older of the two, Sigurður Sigurðsson, was so exhausted that I doubt he managed to survive the night. It s said that those fellows were close in more ways than one. It s not without reason they left a good farm in the lowlands and went to live up on the heath. But God is witness to all that we do and he has rightfully put asunder these two in every way forever. PÁLL The Lord is all powerful, Pastor Jón. I ve had a message from my dear friend Oddur in Skaftárdalur valley. ODDUR The fiery flood continues to pour down and is quickly filling up the Skaftá river canyon. I don t think it s safe to remain here much longer in the valley. Might I impose on your kindness by asking you to help us leave here with those belongings we might take with us. I ll gather what men and horses I can. It s best that we ride across the heath since all the paths further down have been cut off. We ll move you, your people and all your livestock and belongings to my home/the parsonage here at Prestbakki. Here you re welcome to stay for as long as you like.

5 On our way back from Skaftá valley we came to the canyon. The children in the group screamed in terror upon seeing the liquid fire spilling down. Giant boulders and huge cliff slabs floated and bobbed about in a flaming sea of lava. On our arrival at Prestbakki my wife Þórunn greeted us and helped our guests settle in. The sun was seldom seen, hidden by a curtain of mist. The foul smelling grey ash Lay on every blade of grass. Unbeknownst to the world, Our woes/plight grew by the day/multiplied/grew ever worse. Divine Lord, come to our aid All hope and pray that this eruption won t last as long as the one in Mount Katla. Thirty years previously it spewed ash for an entire week. Becoming less intense with each day. The lava flows forth damming river courses so that farms are flooded with the now tepid water. Next the lava takes a southerly direction towards Meðalland. GUÐMUNDUR A number of farms in the locality are already destroyed or have to be abandoned due to flooding. And the church at Hólmar, is it still standing? GUÐMUNDUR I m afraid not. The church burned to the ground last Sunday. Everything inside was destroyed. Sacred objects, books and tools for burial. Even the old church bell. This is terrible news. Did the pastor not manage to save anything at all?

6 GUÐMUNDUR Yes, he managed to save what he himself owned before hastily leaving last Friday. He locked the church on his departure and hid the key. Nobody could open the door when they realised the imminent danger. A desperate attempt to break down the door on Saturday came to nothing due to how sturdy and unyielding it was. And to think this same clergyman was once judged to be an intelligent man of good/fine character. Now in this time of great peril he proves/shows himself to be nothing but a lowly coward. When God decides to punish us great men are of no value. GUÐMUNDUR Ah, the poor fellow hardly knew his own mind. He simply did what his wife told him to and thought only about saving their personal belongings. But he s not the only one to lose his head in this calamity. Þorvaldur from Botnar tried to save his flock by herding them on to an island close to his farm. But the lava ran much faster than he reckoned and before he could do anything the entire flock was wiped out without a trace. It wasn t so long ago he was boasting how much money he d made these past years. Once again we re taught the lesson that what s quckly gained is oftentimes just as quickly lost. And even if the poor beasts had been saved they would have been worthless. These past weeks the ash and sulphur have poisoned the ground. The poor creatures. They roam about, their muzzles, nostrils and feet bright yellow and covered in sores. In the last days of June yet another eruption occurs. The entire area between Skaftá and Árfjall is transformed into a blazing inferno. Still more farms disappear beneath the lava. The already flooded church and farm at Skál have burned to the ground. Valuable hay and pastureland in the locality is also destroyed.

7 The first week in July there s another violent eruption accompanied by earth tremors. It s as though the gates of hell itself have been flung open. Sigurður, the sarcistan at Kirkubærklaustur, is fearful for the safety of the church. SIGURÐUR THE SACRISTAN The river of molten lava is now so close upon us that I didn t dare but quickly remove everything I could from the church. The situation is terrible/dire. I don t think anyone got a wink of sleep so worried are we as to what our fate may be. This may well be the end for all of us. We mustn t lose hope, Sigurður. In such desperate times we must place our trust in the Almighty. Tomorrow let us join our parishoners in prayer. Make more of this build up suspense SIGURÐUR THE SACRISTAN A surging flow of fire is now following the course of the river directly towards us here. It s not certain the church will be standing tomorrow. Whatever is God s will we must all accept it. Sunday the 20th of July. There s thunder, lightning and earth tremors and the air is thick with vapour. The weather however is calm and so all in the locality make their way to church, locals and strangers alike, for Sunday service. A sense of deep fear and utter helplessness pervades this little community. SIGURÐUR THE SACRISTAN This may well be the last time we gather here to pay homage to the Lord. If our beloved church is destroyed, it will be the third this summer. The thick vapours of steam rising from where the lava has flowed into the river make it impossible to determine just how close it is. The hazy outline of the church can only be made out when almost right next to it. God only knows what will happen, Pastor Jón.

8 The church s interior is intermittently lit up by flashes of lightning. The pews are all full with people huddled close for comfort. A few communicate in low whispers. Parishoners are still arriving. A young girl assists her sickly mother inside. An elderly woman, herself visibly ill, gives up her seat to the mother. The congregation falls silent as the reverend with a slow but determined step approaches the pulpit? Their gaze is fixed on their spiritual leader as he genuflects and blesses himself. Despite feeling tired and forlorn, they are composed and ready to join in the holy ceremony. Suddenly the church building shutters and there s a deafening peal of thunder. Let us pray to the Lord in the rightful spirit that he in his divine mercy will spare us from death and destruction. Each one of us confident in our prayer. Each one of us ready to die if that be God s will. Some have uttered unchristian words and transgressed and they shall be chastised/chastened and humbled. Oh one true God, you who are all powerful, you who are almighty. We beseech you Lord and patiently await your will. God is eternally just. In his divine wisdom he knows what is best. Therefore pay homage to the Lord and praise his holy name. The congregation now join in singing the hymn In You My Lord Do I Put My Trust Oh, listen, Lord, most graciously And hear my cry, my prayer, my plea, Make haste for my protection; For woes and fear Surround me here. Help me in my affliction. The service goes on longer than usual. Yet no one shows any inclination to leave. All are united in this fervent plea for divine intervention/mercy. When the service is over the congregation silently leave the church. Despite the terrible uncertainty as to what awaits them outside, these people have an air of stoic composure and resignation about them.

9 God be praised! It appears the fiery lava flow has advanced only a fraction since before the church service. The flood waters from the river have cooled it down. And behold the columns of steam spouting skywards! Unbelievable as it seems, the lava has piled up and so dammed its own destructive flow. WOMAN It s a miracle! The holy reverend s prayers have been heard./heaven has heard the holy reverend s prayers. No dear brethern. Do not thank me or anyone else. Rather let us together humbly give thanks to the Lord. All who are witness to this wondrous deed or may hear of it, be they living or yet unborn, let them give praise to his name. Witnessing this dramatic development fills the people with a spirit of hope as they make their way home.the next day it seems the eruption is on the decline and the rumbling din has abated. While lava is still flowing, it piles up on that already there and so poses no direct threat to the settlement. News of the Fire Sermon and the miracle performed by the Rev Jón quickly spreads thoughout the locality. However the good reverend makes little of his role and says it s the work of the Almighty. But the eruption is far from over. On the 29th of July, nine days after the Fire Sermon, deep rumblings and hissing sounds can be heard north of the mountain Kaldbakur. A new fissure has opened up to the east. A massive cloud of thick ash cloaks the locality making it almost impossible to see. A steam cloud extends down Hverfisflótsglúfur canyon. The powerful glacial river Hverfisfljót has dried up. The lava flow is heading down towards the Fljótshverfið district and once again farms disappear beneath the rapidly encroaching lava and people are forced to flee for their lives. During the summer there s no growth due to the ash and poisonous vapours, so no hay is saved to feed the few surviving animals over the coming winter.the volcanic system is still as active as ever and pouring out lava. Along a 25 kilometre long fissure on the mountain Laki, there s an endless flow of lava. And it s not just the lava that has increased; an ever growing cloud of ash hangs

10 over most of the country. It s so dense that even in areas far away one can hardly see from one farm to the next. The number of people who have lost their homes because of the eruption is around two hundred. The nation is slowly becoming aware of the desperate state of things in the Skaftafell district. At the governer s residence at Bessastaðir the Danish crown s representative, Superintentant Lauritz Andreas Thodal, can see the huge cloud rising to the heavens far off to the east. News of the disaster has been slow in reaching him due to the fact that riding paths have disappeared and all the rivers are without bridges. Thodal therefore decides to adopt a policy of wait and see. He does however call a session of the national assembly at Þingvellir. Here people appear to be equally uninformed. Even the sheriff for the district, Lýður Guðmundsson, knows little about the situation. LÝÐUR We in Mýrdal haven t seen any lava or witnessed any destruction caused by it. However some people fleeing the eruption have sought shelter among us and described their terrible experience. I felt it unwise to travel east in order to find out what was happening. To do so would have been extremely dangerous. The lava appears to flow beneath the ground and no one can tell when and where it s likely to suddenly burst through the surface. Thodal, the crown s representative, is at a loss as to what he should do. So he decides to do nothing. The first news of the catastrophe doesn t reach Denmark until the autumn and then it s conveyed not by Thodal but by Suckenberg, a Danish merchant in Reykjavik. In October the king decides to send a factfinding team to Iceland to carry out a report on the situation. Lord in Waiting Hans Christoph Levetzow is to be in charge. Levetzow sees this as an opportunity for promotion and hopes that he will be appointed the next royal superintentant in Iceland. Magnús Stephensen, a twenty year old Icelandic student is to accompany him. En route to Iceland their ship encounters rough seas and is forced to winter in Norway.

11 In the meantime the lava continues to flow in Skaftafellsýsla district. It s a frightning scene in Síða where fires blaze to the north, west and east and the whole area is covered in a thick cloud. Day and night Rev Jón and his wife Þórunn tirelessly do all they can to assist those in need. When other pastors flee, their parishoners in desperation come to the parsonage at Prestbakki. The housewife Þuriður is one of those who has seen her home destroyed by the lava. ÞURÍÐUR God be praised that we and the children found refuge here with you Rev. Jón. I implore you in God s name never to leave us. For I know that as long as you are here with us, asking God s protection, then we are safe. Whatever happens I am without fear. I feel my courage renewed and shall bravely stand my ground as long as I have the energy to do so or we are all forced to flee or die, if that be God s will. It s early December before the eruption shows any real signs of abating. The red glow in the sky is gone and once again the sun and moon appear normal. The 24th of December is perfectly calm and the sky is clear. Before sunset a thick cloud appears here above the settlement of Kirkjubærjarklaustur. It s oval in shape and its middle is light blue with branches, curls and spheres radiating outwards. These are dark red, black and amber in clour. My belief is that this is steam rising from a new lava flow but then it may be a portent Is this a portent to our suffering even further destruction and misery? As is the custom, there is a church service at Kirkjubæjarklaustur. But it s not easy for everyone to get to church. PÁLL FROM MÖRTUNGA

12 My wife and I had reached the river on our way to church. We were late due to how weak and slow the horses were. Suddenly, my wife s s mount fell down dead beneath her. Taking her onto my horse we managed to ford the river. Once across the horse tripped on the edge of the bank and was unable to stand up. There was nothing for it but to continue our journey on foot. There are very few horses left in the district hereabouts. This morning three horses belonging to Þorleifur lay dead in the field north of the farm. That makes 20 horses in all that have died today. PÁLL The horses are reduced to skin and bone and their tails and manes are rotting so the hair comes off in tuffs when tugged. And the sheep have fared no better. There s hardly a limb which isn t deformed and the lumps stand out in the skin next to the bone. Their intenstines are covered in sand and worms. The little meat that s to be had from these poor creatures is foul smelling and tastes rancid PÁLL A number of people have already died from eating it. Cattle are suffering from the same terrible sickness. Legs split asunder, hips and joints collapse and tails fall off and rib bones break under the weight when animals lie on their side. But it s not just the animals that are suffering. Those folk who don t have enough to eat are also suffering greatly. Their bodies become bloated. Gums swell and crack in the most painful way and sinewscontract. These are the symptoms of scurvy in its most advanced stage. I m of the opinion that this disease is caused by poisonous vapours and an unhealthy diet, such as the consumption of contaminated meat and barley. And to make matters even worse

13 the crown representative has been slow in sending supplies of corn from the towns to those living here. Life has also become extremely desperate at the Prestbakki parsonage. There s no money and no dairy products to be had. There s nothing for it but to go all the way to the bishopric at Skálholt and ask for help, a journey that took several days. The bishop obliges by letting Rev. Jón have 20 crowns from the alms box. Extra text FINNUR Be strong Pastor Jón in these most trying times. I trust the Almighty will help me as long as I am unwaivering in my faith and perform my pastoral duties in an honest and virtuous way. As winter wears on more and more people die from disease and hunger. Before summer arrives, 76 of Rev. Jón s parishioners have died. All of the pastor s time and efforts are devoted to helping the needy. His horse, the only one still alive in the area, is used to carry the dead to church for Christian burial. Because people are so weak corpses are kept until Sunday and then buried in communal graves of 8, 10 or even more. Those who are the strongest are assigned the task of breaking up the frozen surface in the graveyard and digging the graves. Day and night non stop for six weeks those last months of winter the reverend tends to his people s physical and spiritual needs, both the living and dead./those who have died and those who are too weak to come to church. The good pastor s daily tasks are many. A milk cow needs to be lent to the destitute. A young child s blood circulation has to be treated, there s medicine to be administered and sores to be dressed. And all this in addition to the work that needs doing about the farm. When hunger is at its more severe people resort to desperate means to survive. Some boil skins and leather belts. Others make a porridge or bread by mixing manure with meal. Any fish bones and such that are found lying about the farm or buried in the sand down on the beaches are collected. Then they are boiled

14 and crushed to a powder and eaten. A few succumb to eating horsemeat, though most would rather die than do such. As famine and death become commonplace people flee westwards in a frantic attempt to save their lives. Most are forced to leave almost everything behind. That which is not left in the care of honest folk is stolen when deserted homes are broken into. Due to the shortage of firewood people take to burning furniture and anything else they can find. Of the 85 farmsteads in the area there are only 21 still occupied. Of the 613 inhabitants who once lived here only 93 remain. Heavenly father, watch over and protect us here in Síða... On the 16th of April 1784 Levetzow and his investigative team sail into Hafnarfjörður harbour after their earlier misadventure at sea. Upon coming ashore, Magnús Stephensen, the young Icelandic lad accompanying the crown official, immediately senses that the situation is much graver than was at first imagined. The devastation has extended well beyond where the eruption is. MAGNÚS STEPHENSEN The pitiful moans of those wracked by hunger and the terrible sight of the withered and emaciated bodies of men and beasts is something I shall never forget. In Copenhagen officials are still only concerned with gathering information. Letters are sent back and forth and in the meantime people are dying of hunger. Little if anything has been done to help those in greatest need. The Danish church organizes the collection of money to be sent to Iceland. When Rev. Jón hears the money has reached Iceland he immediately leaves his home and heads west. There are many already on the move. Most travel on foot as there are few horses left. People are heading west in a desperate hope to save their lives. Some are in search of a piece of land, others are looking to buy livestock. GUÐMUNDUR

15 I ve managed to scrape together 10 crowns and hope to buy a cow and hopefully a horse as well. My wife is so poorly that I fear she won t survive if we don t get some milk. The children are also very sickly. That God may grant your wish, Guðmundur. The truth is that those with livestock to sell are asking ever higher prices as the demand increases. I ve heard that a cow or horse each cost in the region of 8, 10 or even 12 crowns, depending on how greedy and merciless the seller is. GUÐMUNDUR It seems everything is against us these days, Rev. Jón. Let us not lose faith, Guðmundur. I m on my way to the governor s residence to meet the crown s representative. I ve been told that he s in possession of money collected abroad for the so called eruption victims. Hopefully I can get some of it to assist/help those most in need. After a journey of many days Rev. Jón finally arrives at Bessastaðir and meets the crown s superintendant, THODAL Good day to you, Rev. Steingrímsson. Here you have 600 crowns which you shall let the sheriff Lyður Guðmundsson have.this money is to be distributed to those residents whose farms have been destroyed by the eruption. May you have a good journey. The intention is that Rev. Jón take the money in a sealed chest to the sheriff in Vík in Mýrdal, who will then distribute the money to those who have suffered the most in the eruption so they can buy livestock in the east of the country. The pastor travels east with the money. On the way he stays on the farm Stórólfshvoli, home of the local sheriff for the district of Árnes, Jón Jónsson.

16 SSON Well, well, who do we have here? If it isn t yet nother visitor from Síða./Well, well, yet another visitor from Síða. A dear/close acquaintence of yours, Sigurður, the church sarcestan at Kirkjubærklaustur, is already here. SIGURÐUR Greetings, Reverend Jón. I see you have the crown s money with you. I m sorry to say but there s little chance of buying any livestock in the eastern district of Múlasýsla with the money. How come? Is there no livestock to be had there? This is terrible news. SIGURÐUR It is indeed. The disease has spread far to the east and there are no healthy animals to be had. As the pastor is preparing to leave the next day he discovers that Sigurður has already gone. He notices too that the royal seal on the chest has been broken. SSON Before leaving this morning Sigurður took 20 crowns from the chest for himself and 8 crowns for some farmer to buy a cow. By the way, A man by the name of Guðmundur begs a word with you. GUÐMUNDUR Greetings, Rev. Jón. Might I be so bold to intreat your help? I ve found a cow I want to buy but I don t have enough money. I needed to use part of the money towards food and shelter on my journey. I fear my wife and children won t survive much longer. I m in a right situation now. My instructions are to continue east with the money. But the seal has been broken and the chest opened. Here, desperate farmers who have come all the way from Skaftafell, have the opportunity to purchase livestock, whereas there s nothing to be had further east in Múlasysla

17 district. Should I continue east as ordered, or should I rather distribute it amongst the needy here? What do you think, sheriff? SSON Taking the money with you east makes little sense. The poor folk there are not going to fare any better though it s in the hands of sheriff Lýður Guðmundsson. Actually, I have two cows myself that I d be willing to part with at the right price. The pastor takes his friend s advice and lets Guðmundur have the requested amount from the chest. On his journey east he meets most of his parishoners who are desperately searching for land and livestock. But nobody is willing to sell to them on credit. When they hear that the pastor has money with him they implore him in God s name to help them. God knows I find nothing more painful than to see my people suffer. Since cattle can still be bought here for a fair price I will let each one of you have money to buy one or two. When the pastor finally meets sheriff Lýður Guðmundsson there are 355 crowns left from the original 600. Ah, Þórunn, my beloved wife. The sheriff is now blaming me for distributing the money to the poor and has reported me to Thodal, the crown supertintendant. Sigurður the sarcastan, who himself broke the seal and took 20 crowns, wholeheartedly supports the sheriff in the matter. It appears that Thodal, a gullible and sour individual, has blackened both my reputation/character and my office before the crown This turns out to be true. Pastor Jón now heads off for the governor s residence at Bessastaðir to meet the superintendant and explain the situation. On the way he meets Magnús Stephensen and Lord in Waiting Levetzow who are on their

18 way east to the site of the eruption. Levetzow has already got to hear about what has been done with the money and is furious at Jón. LEVETZOW Your action is indefensible and unforgivable. All/everything can be defended, except crimen læsæ majestatis. LEVETZOW What are you saying, man? I see you re no Latin scholar. Though I may not be able to defend myself before men. I know I can always do so before God and my conscience. LEVETZOW God and your conscience have nothing to do with this matter. : If you please, sir. I ll include them nevertheless. Pastor Jón falls ill before reaching Bessastaðir and so has to make do with writing a letter to the crown. The official dismisses Jón s explanation and sends a reply that he has now forbidden all traders to extend the pastor credit for the purchase of any necessary goods. Despite it being high summer, these are dark days for pastor Jón Steingrímsson. He is slandered and condemned from all quarters for having distributed the money to the needy. Some weeks later his wife becomes seriously ill. Yesterday, the 4th of October, my beloved wife quietly passed away at the age of 66. We had been married for 31 years and 4 days. Now my home conditions are so destitute that today I had to fire two of my labourers who over the summer have been sneaking into the pantry and stealing food. I have no sheep

19 left. Thankfully a nearby friend has generously agreed to lend me some sheep to bear the cost of the funeral. After his wife s funeral the pastor sets off in the hope of being able to buy some provisions for the oncoming winter. I ve now travelled all over the districts of Mýrdal and Eyjafjöll visiting friends in the hope that they might sell me a sack or two of rye or barley. There s nothing to be had. Conditions are so hard and supplies so scant that there s not even enough to offer a guest. I did eventually manage though guile to get one bag of rye, but that s between ourselves. And the irony of it all is that while the country was enduring all these frightful misfortunes trade continues uninterrupted. The Danish trade monopoly means traders had to comply with strict regulations laid down by the crown. Most of the fish caught off Iceland is exported while the local population is left to starve. To make matters worse in late summer of 1784 the south of Iceland is hit by a powerful earthquake with the result that almost 500 farms are damaged and may of them collapse. And even though the king orders merchants to provide additional assistance to the needy this order is slow in getting through due to the long distance and poor means of communication. The trading stations are far from where the eruption has been and there are few horses available to carry supplies. In Denmark over crowns have been collected in a national campaign to help the affliced in Iceland. Unfortunately this money gets tied up in the crown s bureaucracy and never reaches those in need. Fifty years on the money is finally used to build an academy in Reykjavik. It doesn t help either that one of the ships carrying supplies and important letters from the crown to representatives and merchants in Iceland founders off the south coast. Almost all of its cargo is lost as well as the royal letters. Some extended a helping hand

20 in this our hour of need. While others increased our burden demanding their pound of flesh From autumn on has been the darkest period of my entire life. After the death of my beloved wife my life fell to pieces. I have suffered from various ailments and sleeplessness, and fallen into the depths of utter despair. I ve no oil for my lamps and so must perform all tasks in the dark. My servants have to stay in the barn and watch over the cow for fear of thieves stealing the milk. And I must join them there either lying down or half sitting. My daughter Helga and myself sleep in the barn loft as the farm house is unbearably cold. In this miserable existence my sole comfort is to sit for hours by my bed reading the word of God. What saddens me the most is that I ve suffered frost bite on my hands and feet and can no longer hold a pen and write. I hurt my arm over Christmas and I ve hardly been able to dress myself for five weeks now. Never once though have I failed to perform my duties as a servant of the Lord. My greatest fulfillment is praising the Almighty in the house of God. There aren t many who come to service now. Sometimes the congregation can be as few as eight, but the joy experienced is no less than when the church is full. The year 1785 opens with a severe frost. So biting is the cold that during one service in January the altar wine freezes in the bottle. The countryside is a frozen blighted wasteland. But in time winter loosens its deathly vice like grip and the gentle rays from a slowly rising sun bring hope. The Fljótshverfi area, which once was a flourishing countryside, is a sad sight to behold. Foxes now inhabit the deserted farmhouses. The few remaining farmers are desperately poor. Nevertheless the crown superintendant has ordered that all vagrants return to their parishes here even though there is nothing to be had. Altogether these unfortunates number around 40. This is no solution. There is no one who can take them in due to the scarcity of food. All that awaits them here is death. The hardships of the eruption have taken a severe toll on Pastor Jón. At fifty sixyears of age his health is rapidly failing. This man,who prior to the eruption had

21 lived a happy life with his wife and children and was one of the pillars of the community, is now an impoverished widower living on the verge of hunger. All this pain and suffering has caused me to succumb to the darkest temptation, that of wanting to take my own life. A stream runs from a river just south of the meadow below the farm. It has two pools. Búrhylur is the deepest. He goes to the pool with the intention of throwing himself in but falls to his knees and senses that he hears a voice from above. All my promises stand. My strength is yours in this your darkest hour. Invoke my name and trust in me. Alone I yearn for the day of deliverance. Though misfortune be my lot Never desert me O Lord./My faith shall never waiver. A letter has arrived from Bishop Hannes Finnsson. Jón takes the letter and opens it. His excellency, Hans Christoph Levetzow, the crown s new superintendant in Iceland, has requested of me that you be charged with dereliction of duty. You are said to have unlawfully taken and distributed crown funds entrusted into your care by the former crown superintendent, his excellency Lauritz Andreas Thodal. Your action was in breach of your specific order/instruction to deliver the funds into the safe keeping of district administrator Lýður Guðmundsson. I hereby humbly request that you write posthaste stating how you plead to this grave charge. Skálholt 21. September 1785.

22 Hannes Finnson The evidence that I distributed the money amongst those in dire need in the district of Skaftasysla is now in the hands of the crown superintendant, his excellency Lauritz Andreas Thodal. To the charge that I did not prevent sarcastan Sigurður Ólafsson from breaking the seal on the chest and that I distributed some of the money, I most humbly admit my guilt. In my defence I would offer that my sole reason for doing so was to help some of my people who were contemplating returning to their homes in the east, but could not due to their destitute and famished state and their not having horses. Had they travelled they would have been forced to return with any money received to buy livestock. It was clear that had they not recieved immediate financial assistance from me, men, women and children would have died/perished of hunger. In the light of the desperate circumstances described and my error of judgement, I now place this matter in the hands of a merciful higher authority, trusting it will receive fair and just consideration. In his defence Pastor Jón provides written evidence from numerous parishoners vouching for the personal sacrifices he made and the help he extended during these terrible times. In October a reply is received from the bishop and the crown representative. It states that in view of the circumstances under which the money was distributed and the pastor s present poverty, the decision has been taken to lessen the punishment. Nevertheless he is ordered to pay a fine of 5 crowns, the equivalent almost of the price of one cow. The money should go towards supporting poverty stricken ministers. In addition, Pastor Jón is ordered to make a public apology to the powers that be at the next session of the national assembly. No doubt the outcome could have been worse and the cost even greater had I tried to fight the accusations levelled at me. Sometimes it s better to meekly submit than risk suffering the full brunt of persecution. But what is hardest to accept is having to ask forgiveness for a charitable deed done in good faith.

23 It is the summer of Finally the terrible effects of the eruption have run their course. Pastor Jón rides to the national assembly to extend the required apology. Ironically he is the only person made to make amends for aiding the needly during the most devastating natural catastrophe in the nation s history. Twenty percent of the nation have perished. In the districts closest to the eruption up to forty percent have died and many farms have disappeared beneath the lava. It s estimated that nationwide over seventy percent of livestock have been lost; again that number being even higher in those areas in the vicinity of the eruption. The cloud of ash was so immense that it could be seen all over the country The drifting poisonous haze results in harvest failures and famine worldwide. Several years later in France such hardships would push an already desperate peasantry to revolt. Give more information. On a summer s day in 1786 at Þingvellir in Iceland, an impoverished and ailing minister came to a meeting with the powers that be. It has been a long and difficult journey from the eastern district of Skaftafell. On the way he has had to make a detour around the massive new lava field, cross some of the country s major rivers and ride past the ruins of farmsteads destroyed in the powerful earthquake two years previously. On arriving at the assembly he pays his fine of five crowns. I, Pastor Jón Steingrímsson, provost of the district of Skaftafell and minister at the parish church of Kirkjubæjarklaustur, beg the esteemed/merciful judicial council and all others here present forgiveness. Here in our beloved land we have witnessed how the ground ripped asunder and hell s fire poured out destroying men, beasts and land... Pastor Jón would live another five years, a weak and broken man. He married again, one Margrét Sigurðardóttir, who would care for him during those final years. On the 11th of August 1791 he died at the age of sixty three. Appropriately, the burial place of this legendary figure would be at the southeast corner of the graveyard of the very church where he preached his famous

24 Fire Sermon. The good pastor s grave is fittingly marked with a plain but sturdy basalt column on which is enscribed the following words: Here beneath this green grass Lies sleeping the remains of Rev Jón Steingrímsson Sent to teach the Lord s word This jewel of Skaftafell. A man of vision and honour His sweet memory lives on Despite the hardships of time. Though the world may weep Here beneath this green grass Lies sleeping the remains of Rev Jón Steingrímsson