The wooden bones of the church were built in Slovakia, then disassembled and shipped to Iceland.

[2] Local bishop (also from Slovakia) called for the help of volunteers in Hriňová.

The church was built and then assembled in Reyðarfjörður by the help of volunteers and their donations of the material as well.

Slovaks, Poles and others working in Iceland volunteered their weekends to construct the church in place.

His status as the patron saint of Iceland was recognized by Pope John Paul II in 1984, almost 800 years after his death.