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Because there was evidence that he performed miracles he was declared a saint in 1198 by the Iceland parliament. He was belatedly declared patron saint of Iceland by Pope John Paul II in 1985. The faithful were supposed to fast on St. Thorlakur's Day, which was one of the 16 holiest days of the year. In the west, and especially in the West Fjords, skate was standard fare for the day. The custom of eating fish on the day before Christmas may be a relic of the Advent fast which prevailed in pre-reformation times.