Hidden Bridges, Rediscovered Paths: Iceland – Lithuania Through Time
– a Conference in Jörundur G. Hilmarsson’s (1946–1992) memory
Vilnius University and other venues
5-6th of June, 2026
You can download the program as PDF by clicking here.
About
Iceland holds an almost mythical place in Lithuanian cultural memory as a political David – a small but courageous nation that was the first to express political support for Lithuania’s independence through the Icelandic Althing’s vote on 11 February 1991, followed by the establishment of diplomatic relations in August of the same year. The year 2026 will mark the 35th anniversary of these historic milestones. Since then, political, business, and cultural ties between the two countries have steadily deepened. Today, an Icelandic community has taken root in Lithuania, while the Lithuanian diaspora in Iceland ranks among the country’s largest foreign communities. Diplomatic relations are maintained through ambassadors accredited to each other’s states, complemented by active honorary consulates in both countries.
However, little is known about the earlier history of these ties, which can be traced back to the Viking era, took intriguing turns during the interwar period and Word War Two, and persisted throughout the Cold War. A key figure who maintained this thread at a time when no official links were possible – since Lithuania did not exist as an independent state – was the linguist and specialist in Indo-European languages, including Lithuanian, and pioneer of Tocharian studies, Jörundur G. Hilmarsson. He was the first to conduct the Icelandic seminar at Vilnius University, the first to teach Lithuanian at the University of Iceland, the first translator of a Lithuanian book into Icelandic, and the first Honorary Consul of Lithuania in Iceland. He would have turned 80 in 2026, and this conference is dedicated to his memory.
The conference will feature a series of talks examining the parallels, contrasts, and interactions between the two countries over time, while also addressing topics directly connected to Jörundur Hilmarsson’s academic and cultural legacy. The conference will also feature an exhibition dedicated to Jörundur Hilmarsson’s memory, followed by a second exhibition by the Icelandic artist Þorgerður Jörundsdóttir who is Jörundur Hilmarsson’s daughter.
Conference program
program
Friday, June 5, 2026 | Vilnius University
Aula Parva, Universiteto g. 3
10:30 Opening of the Conference
H.E. Ambassador of Iceland Harald Aspelund
Honorary Consul of Iceland Mr. Dalius Radis
Rector Prof. Rimvydas Petrauskas
Dean of the Faculty of Philology Prof. Mindaugas Kvietkauskas
Director of the Institute for Languages and Cultures of the Baltic Dr. Erika Sausverde
11:00–11:45
Guðni Thorlacius Jóhannesson (University of Iceland, President of Iceland 2016–2024)
Morality and Expediency. Icelandic-Lithuanian Relations, 1918–1988
11:45–12:15 Coffee break
12:15–12:45
Ieva Steponavičiūtė Aleksiejūnienė (Vilnius University)
Lithuanians in Iceland around World War Two
12:45–13:15
Rósa Magnúsdóttir (University of Iceland)
From Vilnius to Reykjavík: Writers, Cultural Diplomacy, and the Politics of Exchange in the Cold War
13:15–13:45
Erika Sausverde (Vilnius University)
Iceland, M. I. Steblin-Kamensky, and the Formation of Scandinavian Studies at Vilnius University
14:00 Lunch break
16:00–17:30 Official opening (by invitation only)
📍Exhibition of Þorgerður Jörundsdóttir’s artwork
18:00–19:00 Panel talk: Between Lithuania and Iceland: Shared (Hi)stories of Politics, Culture, and Lives, on Islandijos street.
📍Festival: Takk, Island (Ačiū Tau, Islandija) | Islandijos street, Vilnius
Participants: Prof. Guðni Thorlacius Jóhannesson (University of Iceland, President of Iceland 2016–2024), dr. Ásthildur Jónsdóttir (art curator), Titas Mantas Urbonas (Founder of the festival “Takk, Ísland”), dr. Rasa Baranauskienė (Vilnius University). Moderator Ieva Steponavičiūtė Aleksiejūnienė (Vilnius University)
Saturday, 6th of June | Vilnius University
Aula Parva, Universiteto g. 3
9:30–10:00
Loreta Vaicekauskienė (Vilnius University)
Comparing the Incomparable: On Language Preservation in Iceland and Lithuania
10:00–10:30
Aurelijus Vijūnas (National University of Kaohsiung, Taiwan)
Teaching Lithuanian and Icelandic /remote presentation/
10:30–11:00 Coffee break
11:00–11:30
Rasa Baranauskienė (Vilnius University)
Translating Icelandic Literature into Lithuanian
11:30–12:00
Ugnius Vizgirda Mikučionis (Western Norway University of Applied Sciences)
Vikings Meeting the Curonians in Icelandic Sagas
12:00–12:30
Miguel Karl Villanueva Svensson (Vilnius University)
Jörundur Hilmarsson’s Contribution to Baltic Studies and Indo-European Linguistics
12:30–14:00 Lunch break
📍14:00–15:00 Opening of the exhibition dedicated to the memory of Jörundur Hilmarsson | Vilnius University Library
Living Memory of Jörundur Hilmarsson with Jörundur Hilmarsson’s family members, Rimantas Matulis & Irena Matulienė, and Giedrė Kadžiulytė.
Apie
Atverti pamiršta, atrasti paslėpta:
Islandija ir Lietuva
Konferencija ir kultūrinė programa Jörundurui G. Hilmarssonui atminti
2026 m. birželio 5-6 d.
Islandija lietuvių kolektyvinėje atmintyje užima ypatingą vietą kaip maža, bet drąsi valstybė, pirmoji viešai parėmusi Lietuvos nepriklausomybę. 1991 m. vasario 11 d. Islandijos Altingas priėmė rezoliuciją, kad 1922 m. Lietuvos pripažinimas tebegalioja, o tų pačių metų rugpjūtį abi šalys užmezė diplomatinius santykius.
2026 m. bus minimos šių istorinių įvykių 35-osios metinės. Per pastaruosius dešimtmečius politiniai, ekonominiai ir kultūriniai ryšiai tarp abiejų šalių vis intensyvėjo, tačiau ankstesnė Lietuvos ir Islandijos ryšių istorija tebėra mažai pažinta. Ji siekia dar vikingų laikus, skleidžiasi netikėtais pavidalais tarpukariu ir Antrojo pasaulinio karo metais, nenutrūksta net ir per Šaltąjį karą.
Ypatingą vaidmenį šiame kontekste suvaidino mokslininkas ir vertėjas Jörunduras G. Hilmarssonas, tapęs svarbia jungtimi tarp abiejų šalių. Jis iniciavo pirmąjį islandų kalbos seminarą Vilniaus universitete ir pirmąjį lietuvių kalbos seminarą Islandijos universitete, pirmasis išvertė lietuvišką knygą į islandų kalbą ir tapo pirmuoju Lietuvos garbės konsulu Islandijoje. 2026 m. jam būtų sukakę 80 metų.
VU Skandinavistikos centro rengiamoje konferencijoje bus nagrinėjamos Lietuvos ir Islandijos istorinės paralelės, skirtumai bei tarpusavio ryšiai įvairiais laikotarpiais, taip pat temos, tiesiogiai susijusios su Jörunduro G. Hilmarssono akademiniu ir kultūriniu palikimu.
Konferencijos metu vyks kultūrinė programa: paroda, skirta Jörunduro atminimui, kurioje dalyvaus jį pažinojusieji ir jo šeimos nariai, taip pat menininkės Þorgerður Jörundsdóttir kūrinių paroda. Konferencijos dalyviai dalyvaus festivalio ,,Ačiū Tau, Islandija” atidarymo diskusijoje. Detalią konferencijos ir lydinčių renginių programą galima rasti čia.Visi renginiai vyks anglų kalba.
For more information about the events please contact Ieva Steponavičiūtė Aleksiejūnienė