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
DESS: Ramadan is a time of special closeness to the Almighty
DESS congratulated Ukraine’s Muslims on the beginning of Ramadan.
Jehovah’s witness pastor sentenced in Lviv region for refusing TRC service
A court in Lviv region sentenced a Jehovah’s Witness pastor to five years in prison for unauthorized absence from his unit and for refusing to serve as a TRC cook.
Orthodox Church in America raises $700,000 for Ukrainians in Poland
An OCA representative met with Metropolitan Sava and discussed humanitarian support for Ukrainian refugees in Poland.
Hollywood Catholic actors remind of the spiritual meaning of Great Lent
Mark Wahlberg i Jonathan Roumie recorded a video message calling for prayer at the beginning of Great Lent.
MP Huz discusses seizure of UOC monastery in Myltsi with Volyn RMA head
Huz demanded that the authorities "resolve the situation" with the St. Nicholas Monastery of the Volodymyr-Volynsky Eparchy of the UOC.
Lviv authorities to allocate UAH 300,000 for UGCC church damaged by shelling
The Lviv City Council will finance the restoration of stained glass windows of the Uniate church after damage sustained as a result of a missile strike.