Stóra-Giljá/Gullsteinn
Bishop Friðrekur and Þorvaldur Koðránsson the Far-Travelled from Stóra-Giljá were the first to preach the Christian faith in Iceland.
More: Stóra-Giljá / Gullsteinn. Bishop Friðrekur and Þorvaldur Koðránsson the Far-Travelled came to Iceland, where they were the first Christian missionaries. They spent the first winter at Giljá with Þorvaldur’s father, Koðrán. North of the homefield at Stóru-Giljá, near the road, is a large rock known as Gullsteinn (Gold Rock). Koðrán is said to have attributed supernatural powers to the rock. He refused to be baptised by his son, as it would offend the guardian spirit of the rock. Bishop Friðrekur then chanted over the rock until it cracked.
In 1981 a memorial was erected at Gullsteinn, commemorating the 1100th anniversary of the Christian mission of Bishop Friðrekur and Þorvaldur to Iceland.