Main content

The Viking priest

脕satr煤 is Iceland鈥檚 fastest growing faith, but it is being hijacked by white supremacists. High priest Hilmar Hilmarsson is determined to tackle this critical challenge.

The 脕satr煤 faith is Iceland's fastest growing religion. Drawing on Norse mythology, it is a pagan faith open to all. But in recent years it has been hijacked by white supremacists in other countries. We follow High Priest, Hilmar Hilmarsson, as he attempts to tackle this critical challenge and protect his faith鈥檚 true origins.

When white supremacists marched through Charlottesville in 2017, Hilmar looked on from Reykjavik. It was not just their racist message that worried him. It was the fact their banners bore the symbols of his faith such as Thor's hammer. 脕satr煤, according to Hilmar, emphasises respect and tolerance, reviving polytheistic traditions and the worship of gods and goddesses from Iceland鈥檚 pre-Christian past.

Thanks to his position and the fact he has become so well respected both inside and beyond Iceland, Hilmar has an authority recognised by the Icelandic state to conduct weddings and funerals and lead the rituals or "blots" that the group practise to mark the passing year - a 21st Century reimagining of how pre-Christian Norse people celebrated their seasons. We join him as the community gather around him and prepare for the welcoming of the winter blot.

But Hilmar has also received disturbing messages and even death threats from far- right pagans in the US, Germany and Canada who do not agree with his inclusive belief system and his support for gay marriage and LGBTQ rights. We follow him as he looks forward to the opening of the group鈥檚 first temple while under pressure to distance the religion from white supremacy.

Producer: Sarah Cuddon
A Falling Tree production for 大象传媒 World Service

(Photo: High Priest Hilmar Hilmarsson. Credit: Gavin Haines)

Available now

27 minutes

Last on

Mon 23 Jan 2023 00:32GMT

Broadcasts

  • Fri 20 Jan 2023 04:32GMT
  • Fri 20 Jan 2023 05:32GMT
  • Sat 21 Jan 2023 16:32GMT
  • Sun 22 Jan 2023 00:32GMT
  • Sun 22 Jan 2023 01:32GMT
  • Sun 22 Jan 2023 09:32GMT
  • Sun 22 Jan 2023 10:32GMT
  • Mon 23 Jan 2023 00:32GMT

Podcast