Hallgrímskirkja - The Strangest But A Stunning Chapel Of Iceland
According to religious experts, the Christianity religion has been of immense benefit in shaping the society in diverse ways. Christians have the greatest respect for the Almighty God therefore, the place of worship is of high essence to the entire religion. Christians are collectively seen as a single spiritual community who worship God, The Almighty in the church.
The visit to one of the largest and most famous church buildings in the north Atlantic of Iceland will definitely be worth it - never dull moment embarking on this special visit to Hallgrímskirkja. This expressive style of church architecture is simply different. However, there is a sentiment about the history of the Icelandic people, who actually argued about all the buildings built in the country. But since the construction of the Hallgrímskirkja, the people have rather praised the designer for a great job.
In 2008, the main tower of the church was completely restored and covered in scaffolding. At the end of 2009, the restoration was completed and the scaffolding was discarded. Hallgrímskirkja prayer center which doubles as a national Icelandic parish and national sanctuary, is one of the most beautiful tourist attractions in Iceland - with a solid architectural design. First time visitors are always amazed at the characteristics of the church building. Regular visitors can't also keep their excitement any time they tour.
The edifice is beautifully built with hard mafic igneous rock of varied mineral content. It is, of course, inspired by the black waterfall. Once at the entrance door of the church, you can climb the 73-meter high tower and enjoy the scenery of Iceland and its surroundings.
Before you enter the main church auditorium, I can bet a penny you will not be able to go through the door without being 'hit' by a statue at the entrance. The Leifur Eiriksson's statue also known as “Leif the Lucky”, became the first European to discover America 1000 years ago. Visitors may be curious why there is a relationship between Leif the Lucky and their respect for this statue. But hey! The statue was in honour of the American discoverer.
Factually, the whole church was named after Hallgrímur Pétursson, author of the hymns of passion. Hallgrímur was a clergyman in the 17th century. In general, there is nothing free, and so visitors are allowed to pay a nominal fee to climb this beautiful church tower via a modernised elevator. The wide view of the capital of Iceland, Greenland, vast landscapes of the surrounding mountains and ocean in North America and in the west of South America are unimaginable. No one can doubt that Reykjavik, the capital of Iceland, is guarded over by the Church. The architecture of the Hallgrímskirkja and the modern frontage show everything.
Let's Talk About The Background of Hallgrímskirkja
This church was built in 1937 by the architect Guðjón Samúelsson. His magnificent work was inspired by the exciting design of a rich Icelandic tradition. Hallgrímskirkja is a Lutheran church in Iceland, which is considered to be one of the places visited most by local residents and foreigners. It is the largest church in Iceland at an altitude of 74.5 meters (244) feet high and is one of the tallest buildings in the country. The inner part of the church is 1676 square meters. It was completed in 1945 and was declared as a Holy center on October 26, 1986. Coincidentally, in that same year, the country celebrated its 200th anniversary in Reykjavik as a town. Hallgrímskirkja accommodates more than 1,200 congregants, and the tower transmits radio signals in Iceland.
Hallgrímskirkja, which is also the church of Hallgrímur, comprise of Icelandic national monument and a mid town parish church with a vibrant lifestyle. It was dedicated to the most famous divine poet named Hallgrímur Pétursson in Iceland. This church is part of the Evangelical Anglican Church, connecting the Lutheran and Anglican churches in Western Europe. Obviously, there is no doubt that Hallgrímskirkja is more than a big wheel as an institution. Now we know why there are about 7,000 ministers who served, respected choirmasters, organists, clergy, churchwardens and many volunteers who support various local events from children to adults here.
Opening Hours
Winter (October – April): 9 am – 5 pm
Summer (May – September): 9 am – 9 pm
The new development here is that visitors are always welcome to try the newly established elevators. They are simply outstanding!
Fees
Hallgrímskirkja, one of the most strange and charming places of worship in the world, is a place where many people gather every single day to see the beauty of the architecture and latest news around it. As already mentioned, the maximum admission fee to the tower is ISK 1000 - ISK 100 aged 7-16. Church attendance is absolutely free. Tourists from all over the world come for a memorable experience and it is important to note that visitors buy tickets at the church's tourist shop within the premises. The tower closes on Sundays from 11:00 am to 12:15 pm. Hallgímskirkja is a lively church, which sometimes hosts special ceremonies, so it can close any time without notice. However, everyone can participate in all church events and activities.
Not only the amazing architecture of Hallgrímskirkja is exposed, but also the continuous records achieved by the church. In 2012, the well-known and reliable Danish newspaper Politiken stated that it is one of the 10 most strangest and unbelievable churches in the world. Two years later (2014), It was selected as one of the strangest buildings on the Strange Building website. Named Boredpanda, 4520 visitors worldwide visited this site as one of the 33 strangest buildings in the world and classified it as the 24th strangest building.
About the Author 🇬🇭
Osei Agyemang is a passionate, creative writer and editor with a zeal for creating exciting and innovative content. Osei is also a junkie fan who loves to visit and tell interesting sites around the world. He is a useful National artist who has studied Psychology and Journalism. Osei just loves writing and is also a fashion enthusiast.
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