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 now allows matronymics alongside patronymics
Ukrainian legislation has allowed people to change their patronymic since 2021, including replacing the father's name with the mother's name.
Kharkiv's gay community announces LGBT march
At the pride march in Kharkiv, participants will demand the legalization of same-sex marriages in Ukraine.
Ukrainians criticize official who called pilgrimage to Pochaiv "horrifying"
Threads users did not support the head of the "Ancient Kyiv" Reserve, Roman Malenkov, who called the UOC pilgrimage "a horrifying horror."
Metropolitan Alexiy of Voznesensk consecrates chapel in Velyka Solona
The ruling bishop of the Voznesensk Eparchy performed the consecration of the Chapel of the Holy Martyrs Faith, Hope, Love, and their mother Sophia.
UOC draws 7 times more worshippers than OCU in Kerstentsi on Transfiguration
More than 300 faithful attended the UOC parish’s patronal feast in Kerstentsi.
Sybiha invites Putin to take Dmitry Donskoy’s place in sarcophagus
Ukraine’s foreign minister commented on reports that part of the relics of Holy Prince Dmitry Donskoy could be sent to Russian troops.