Saint Thorlak

Saint Thorlak Thorhallsson
Statue of Saint Thorlak at the Catholic Cathedral in Reykjavík, Iceland
Bishop of Skálholt
Born	1133 (1133) Fljótshlíð, Icelandic Commonwealth
Died	23 December 1193(1193-12-23) (aged 59–60) Skálholt, Iceland
Venerated in	Roman Catholic Church Evangelical-Lutheran Diocese of North America
Canonized	14 January 1984 by Pope John Paul II
Feast	23 December; 20 July (translation of relics)
Patronage	Iceland, fishermen, autistics, Catholics of Scandinavia

Thorlak Thorhallsson (Icelandic: Þorlákur Þórhallsson; 1133 – 23 December 1193) is the patron saint of Iceland. He was Bishop of Skálholt from 1178 until his death.^[1] Thorlak's relics were translated to the Cathedral of Skalholt in 1198, not long after his successor, Páll Jónsson, announced at the Althing that vows could be made to Thorlak.

His status as a saint did not receive official recognition from the Catholic Church until 14 January 1984, when John Paul II canonized him and declared him the patron saint of Iceland.^[2] His feast day is 23 December, when Thorlac's Mass is celebrated in Iceland.