Marian devotion
The Virgin of Akureyri
Akureyri, Iceland
In Iceland's northern capital, the Virgin Mary is venerated as the protector of Arctic fishermen.
The parish of Akureyri
The Catholic parish of Akureyri is the northernmost religious community in Iceland. Founded in the 19th century, the parish has served the region's Catholics for generations.
The Virgin of the Arctic
The image of Our Lady of the Arctic is a wooden carving depicting the Virgin Mary with the Child Jesus, surrounded by icebergs and whales. Tradition says that the Virgin appeared to a fisherman from Akureyri during a polar night, when the sun did not rise for months.
"The Virgin of the Arctic illuminates the long winter nights with her maternal light."
Local anecdotes
The residents of Akureyri recount that during the 2010 eruption of the Eyjafjallajökull volcano, parishioners gathered to pray the Rosary before an image of Our Lady of the Arctic. The volcanic ash that blanketed the city did not enter the church, and the faithful attributed this to the protection of the Virgin Mary.
Prayer
O Virgin of the Arctic, protector of the fishermen of the north. You who illuminate the long winter nights with your maternal light, intercede for us before your Son Jesus. Protect the people of Iceland and guide us toward peace. Amen.
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