ROC parish in Norway announces its exit from Moscow Patriarchate
Epiphany Parish in Bergen. Photo: Ostanin's Facebook
April 6, 2025 – The Epiphany parish of the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) in Bergen, Norway, has announced its decision to leave the jurisdiction of the Moscow Patriarchate. The announcement was made by the parish rector, Dmitry Ostanin, on Facebook.
According to Ostanin, the decision was made through a vote, with 135 in favor and 16 against. The community cited its opposition to the ROC’s pro-war stance as the reason for its departure:
“We can no longer remain part of a jurisdiction where representatives justify or bless armed violence. Such an attitude undermines both the Church’s moral authority and the personal suffering that many of our members have experienced as a result of military conflict.”
The parish is currently not under the jurisdiction of any Local Orthodox Church.
Earlier, the UOJ reported that in March 2024, Patriarch Kirill recalled Ostanin to Moscow, and in June 2024, he was suspended from ministry.
Read also
Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry plans advocacy visits abroad for UCCRO
Members of the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations have planned advocacy visits abroad following a meeting with Ukraine’s deputy foreign minister.
UOC priest detained by recruitment officers in Kyiv sent to training ground
UOC priest Maksym Kostiuchenko, who was detained on his way to a church service in Kyiv, has been sent to a military training ground in Chernihiv Region.
25 tons of humanitarian aid from Volyn reach Sviatohirsk Lavra
Around 25 tons of food donated by believers of the UOC Volyn Eparchy arrived at Sviatohirsk Lavra on October 22.
UOC West European Vicariate holds children's camp in Germany
A children’s camp was held in the UOC’s Western Deanery in Germany from October 19 to 23.
Vinnytsia Metropolitan consecrates UOC Intercession church in Luka-Barska
Metropolitan Varsonofy consecrated the Church of the Intercession in Luka Barska, Vinnytsia Region, and celebrated the first Divine Liturgy in the new church.
“Joy of All Who Sorrow” lower сhurch сonsecrated in Korosten
Metropolitan Nikodim of Zhytomyr and Novohrad-Volynskyi presided over the consecration of the church and celebrated the Divine Liturgy at St. Nicholas Church in Korosten.