There is a curious passage in the Grágás, a medieval Icelandic Law Codex, that suggests the links between “The Land of Ice & Fire” and Byzantium were deeper than the export of mercenaries.
The codex states, “If bishops or priests should come to this country, those that are not learned in the Latin language, whether they are “hermskir” or “girskir,” then people are allowed to attend their service if they want to.”
“Hermskir” is fairly ambiguous and may refer to Ermland, a region now in northeastern Poland, or more exotically, Armenia.
“Girskir,” is plainly “Greek” & supports the idea that Greek, or at least Orthodox, priests were active on the island during the Medieval period.
Iceland was huge recruiting ground for Varangians and thousands made the perilous journey across the known world to serve in the Emperor’s bodyguard.
These men didn’t only return with gold, fine weapons, & luxurious silks, but apparently had adopted customs & religious ideas from their time in “Grikkland” & brought them home.
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