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{{Short description|Church}}
[[Image:Oslo OurSavioursOrthodoxChurch01.JPG|thumb|Our Saviour's Orthodox Church in [[Oslo]].]]
{{Infobox Christian denomination
'''[[Eastern Orthodoxy]] in [[Norway]]''' is a small minority religion in [[Norway]] with 7,664 members in 2009<ref>[http://www.ssb.no/english/subjects./07/02/10/trosamf_en/tab-2009-12-09-03-en.html Statistics Norway]</ref>, up from 2,315 in 2000. As well, it is one of the fastest growing religion in [[Norway]].
| name = Eastern Orthodoxy in Norway
| image = Oslo OurSavioursOrthodoxChurch01.JPG
| imagewidth =
| caption = Our Saviour's Orthodox Church in [[Oslo]]
| main_classification = [[Eastern Orthodox Church]]
| orientation =
| founded_date = 1931
| separated_from =
| associations =
| area = [[Norway]]
| members = 36,498<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024 |title=06339: Members of Christian communities outside the Church of Norway, by religious communities, contents and year |url=https://www.ssb.no/en/statbank/table/06339/tableViewLayout1/ |access-date=2024-11-27 |website=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=en-US}}</ref>
}}
'''[[Eastern Orthodox Christianity]] in Norway''' is a small minority religion in Norway with 11,205 official members in 2012,<ref>[https://archive.today/20111115092721/http://www.ssb.no/english/subjects./07/02/10/trosamf_en/tab-2009-12-09-03-en.html Statistics Norway]</ref> up from 2,315 in 2000.<ref>[http://www.ssb.no/english/subjects/07/02/10/trosamf_en/arkiv/ Statistics Norway]</ref> although the church is rapidly growing, and predicted to surpass other Christian denominations.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bergen |date=2021-08-26 |title=SSB: Den ortodokse kirke vokser i Norge |url=https://helligebebudelsen.no/2021/08/26/ssb-den-ortodokse-kirke-vokser-i-norge/ |access-date=2022-10-17 |website=Hellige Jomfru Marias Bebudelse Ortodokse Kirke |language=nb-NO}}</ref>


During 2022, approximately 34,000 Ukrainians arrived in Norway after the [[2022 invasion of Ukraine]]; it was estimated that approximately two-thirds of them identified as Orthodox.<ref name=US2022>[https://www.state.gov/reports/2022-report-on-international-religious-freedom/norway US State Dept 2022 report]</ref>
== The Russian Orthodox Church in Norway ==
[[Image:Barentsburg8.jpg|thumb|The Russian Orthodox church in [[Barentsburg]], [[Svalbard]] ({{lang-ru|Баренцбург}}). Barentsburg is the second largest settlement on [[Svalbard]], with about 500 inhabitants, almost entirely [[Russian people|Russian]]s and [[Ukrainians]]. The Russian-owned [[Arktikugol]] has been mining coal here since 1932, and during the [[Cold War]] Barentsburg was a hotbed of activity as the Russians attempted to expand their zone of control over the islands.]]
Norway has since the [[Viking]] era have been in contact with the neighboring Russian church. Several of the [[Viking]] chiefs stayed in [[Kiev]] and [[Novgorod]], which from the end of the 900s were important centers of [[Orthodox Christianity]]. Through political and cultural links, trade links, and dynastic marriages, [[Norway]] had early knowledge of the eastern Christian faith. In the 1500s, seemed a Russian missionary, St. Trifon the Petjenga, among the [[Sami people]] in Norwegian land and he built an Orthodox chapel at Neidenelven (river). [[Russia]]n [[priest]]s and [[monk]]s visited [[Northern Norway]] until [[World War II]]. After the socialist revolution in [[1917]] arrived at a number of Orthodox refugees to Norway. The [[Russian Orthodox Church]] organized pastoral work among them through his church in [[Stockholm]] (the first [[Orthodox church]] in [[Western Europe]], founded at [[1617]]). In [[1931]], Hl. Nikolai church established in [[Oslo]]. This congregation of the [[Russia]]n tradition of sorts under the [[Patriarchate of Constantinople]] and the Church belongs not to the law of the [[Russian Orthodox Church]] of [[Moscow Patriarchate]].


== History of the Eastern Orthodox Church in Norway ==
Through immigration that has taken place since the late 1900s, and increasingly lively contacts of the border, the [[Russian Orthodox Church]]'s role in a natural way become more important in today's [[Norway]]. In [[1996]], in [[Oslo]], formed a separate congregation - HL. Olga church - under [[Moscow Patriarchate]] jurisdiction. Today, there are independent churches in [[Stavanger]], [[Bergen]] and [[Kirkenes]]. Besides, the [[Russian Orthodox Church]] activities in [[Tromsø]], [[Trondheim]] and in the [[Russia]]n settlement of [[Barentsburg]] on [[Svalbard]].
[[File:Neiden Chapel.jpg|thumb|The [[Skolts|Skolt Sami]], Russian Orthodox St. George's Chapel in [[Neiden, Norway|Neiden]] is a small house of prayer and a burial chapel that was originally built in 1565.]]
Since the [[Viking Age]], Scandinavians came into contact with both the [[Byzantine Empire]] and their neighbors, the Russians. Several of the [[Viking]] chiefs and kings not only resided in [[Novgorod]] but also helped to make [[Kiev]] an important medieval center. At some point during the late ninth or early tenth century Kiev fell under the rule of [[Varangians]] and became the nucleus of the [[Rus' Khaganate|Rus]]' polity. In a number of contemporary sources it is in fact the Scandinavians whom were known as "Rus"; another term was used for the numerous Slavic tribes.


In the 16th century a Russian missionary, [[Tryphon of Pechenga|St. Tryphon]] of Pechenga, evangelized some of the [[Sami people|Sami]] population of Norway and built an Orthodox chapel along the [[Neiden River]]. Following the socialist revolution in 1917, a number of Orthodox refugees from Russia fled to Scandinavia, first to Sweden and eventually to Norway. The [[Eastern Orthodox Church]] in [[Russia]] organized pastoral work among them through the church in [[Stockholm]], founded in 1617. In 1931, St. Nikolai church was established in [[Oslo]]. This congregation of [[Russia]]n tradition is under the jurisdiction of the [[Patriarchate of Constantinople]] and was the first modern Orthodox congregation established in Norway. The 1960s and 1970s saw in influx of Orthodox from Greece in addition to the first known conversions of Norwegians in modern times. Through immigration from Russia, the former Yugoslavia, and other Eastern European countries, the number of Orthodox Christians in Norway has increased significantly since 1990.[https://www.ssb.no/kultur-og-fritid/artikler-og-publikasjoner/meir-enn-dobla-medlemstal-i-den-romersk-katolske-kyrkja-pa-ti-ar] The past decade has also seen the more permanent establishment of Orthodox communities of Serbian, Bulgarian and Romanian tradition, the priests of these communities under their corresponding jurisdictions.
== The Greek Orthodox Church in Norway ==


== The Ecumenical Patriarchate ==
The congregation was founded in [[1965]] with main purpose to serve the Greek-speaking [[Greek Orthodox]] in [[Norway]]. Church fall under Metropolita Pavlos Menevissoglou of [[Sweden]] and [[Scandinavia]], based in [[Stockholm]]. Parish priest Archimandrite Evmenios Likakis and others.


The [[Patriarchal Exarchate for Orthodox Parishes of Russian Tradition in Western Europe]] has one priest in Norway, specifically in Oslo. There are several affiliate or missionary communities in [[Bergen]] and [[Stavanger]].
== See also ==


=== The Greek Community ===
* [[Christianity in Norway]]
The primarily Greek congregation of the Annunciation of the Theotokos was founded in 1965 with main purpose of serving the Greek-speaking Orthodox community in Norway. This church is under the jurisdiction of Metropolitan Cleopas (Strongylis) of Sweden and all of [[Scandinavia]], and is based in [[Stockholm]]. The congregation celebrates the Divine Liturgy approximately once a month through the services of f. Alexandros.


== The Serbian Patriarchate ==
== External links ==
[[File:Hellige Nikolai kirke (mars 2016 - bilde02).jpg|thumb|St. Nikolai Eastern Orthodox Church in Oslo]]
The first modern Orthodox congregation, St. Nikolai Orthodox Church, was formerly under the jurisdiction of the [[Patriarchal Exarchate for Orthodox Parishes of Russian Tradition in Western Europe]] but is now part of the [[Serbian Orthodox Church]]. While it adheres to the Russian or Slavic tradition, the Norwegian language is always used along with [[Slavic languages|Slavonic]] and at times used exclusively. This reflects the missionary tradition of the Orthodox Church, as in for example the work of Sts. [[Cyril and Methodius]], renowned for helping to create a local alphabet ([[Cyrillic]]) in order to translate both the [[Holy Bible]] as well as the various liturgical books of the [[Eastern Orthodox Church]]. as well [[St. George]]'s chapel at [[Neiden, Norway|Neiden]]. In addition there is a small [[skete]] dedicated to [[Tryphon of Pechenga|St. Tryphon]] of Pechenga, home to two monks.


== The Moscow Patriarchate ==
* [http://www.ortodoks.no/ '''The Russian Orthodox Church in Norway''' - '''Norwegian and Russian''']
[[File:Kapellet.JPG|thumb|The Church in Barentsburg]]
* [http://www.greskorthodokskirke.no/ '''The Greek Orthodox Church in Norway''' - '''Norwegian and Greek''']
[[File:Hl.Hallvard-2021-08-22-Pano.jpg|thumb|St.Hallvard Eastern Orthodox Church. Oslo.]]
The main parish of the [[Moscow Patriarchate]], St. Olga's, was founded in Oslo in 1996. Today, there are also independent churches under the [[Moscow Patriarchate]] in Stavanger, Bergen, [[Trondheim]] and [[Kirkenes]]. In addition, the [[Moscow Patriarchate]] sponsors work in [[Tromsø]] and in the [[Russia]]n settlement of [[Barentsburg]] on [[Svalbard]]. Russian communities in [[North Norway|northern Norway]] have often been attended to by Russian clergymen of the [[Moscow Patriarchate]]. there is two congregations under One in Oslo: «St.[[Hallvard Vebjørnsson|Hallvard]] orthodox Parish» : f.Olav Lerseth and «[https://helligebebudelsen.no/en/welcome-to-our-mission/ The Annunciation of the Holy Virgin Mary Orthodox Parish]» in [[Bergen]]: f.Theodor Svane, both under [[Patriarchal Exarchate for Orthodox Parishes of Russian Tradition in Western Europe]]


{{Commons category|Eastern Orthodoxy in Norway}}
== Referances ==


== Number of adherents ==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! '''Year'''
! '''Orthodox'''
! '''Percent'''
|-
| '''1980'''
| '''?'''
| '''?'''
|-
| '''1990'''
| '''1,222'''
| '''0.02%'''
|-
| '''2000'''
| '''2,315'''
| '''0.05%'''
|-
| '''2005'''
| '''5,028'''
| '''0.10%'''
|-
| '''2010'''
| '''8,492'''
| '''0.17%'''
|-
| '''2011'''
| '''9,894'''
| '''0.20%'''
|-
| '''2012'''
| '''11,205'''
| '''0.22%'''
|-
|2013-2019
|?
|?
|-
|2020
|28.544
|0,53%
|-
|2024
|36,498
|0,66%
|}

== See also ==
*[[Religion in Norway]]
*[[Christianity in Norway]]
*[[Catholic Church in Norway]]
*[[Protestantism in Norway]]

== References ==
{{reflist|1}}
{{reflist|1}}


== External links ==
[[Category:Religion in Norway]]
* [http://www.ortodoks.no/ The Moscow Patriarchate Churches in Norway]
* [http://www.greskorthodokskirke.no/ The Annunciation of the Theotokos (Greek parish - Oslo)]
* [http://www.ortodoks.com/ St. Nikolai Orthodox Church (Oslo)]

{{Religion in Norway}}
{{Eastern Orthodox Church footer}}
{{Eastern Orthodoxy in Europe}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Orthodoxy In Norway}}
[[Category:Eastern Orthodoxy in Norway| ]]

Latest revision as of 22:00, 27 November 2024

Eastern Orthodoxy in Norway
Our Saviour's Orthodox Church in Oslo
ClassificationEastern Orthodox Church
RegionNorway
Origin1931
Members36,498[1]

Eastern Orthodox Christianity in Norway is a small minority religion in Norway with 11,205 official members in 2012,[2] up from 2,315 in 2000.[3] although the church is rapidly growing, and predicted to surpass other Christian denominations.[4]

During 2022, approximately 34,000 Ukrainians arrived in Norway after the 2022 invasion of Ukraine; it was estimated that approximately two-thirds of them identified as Orthodox.[5]

History of the Eastern Orthodox Church in Norway

[edit]
The Skolt Sami, Russian Orthodox St. George's Chapel in Neiden is a small house of prayer and a burial chapel that was originally built in 1565.

Since the Viking Age, Scandinavians came into contact with both the Byzantine Empire and their neighbors, the Russians. Several of the Viking chiefs and kings not only resided in Novgorod but also helped to make Kiev an important medieval center. At some point during the late ninth or early tenth century Kiev fell under the rule of Varangians and became the nucleus of the Rus' polity. In a number of contemporary sources it is in fact the Scandinavians whom were known as "Rus"; another term was used for the numerous Slavic tribes.

In the 16th century a Russian missionary, St. Tryphon of Pechenga, evangelized some of the Sami population of Norway and built an Orthodox chapel along the Neiden River. Following the socialist revolution in 1917, a number of Orthodox refugees from Russia fled to Scandinavia, first to Sweden and eventually to Norway. The Eastern Orthodox Church in Russia organized pastoral work among them through the church in Stockholm, founded in 1617. In 1931, St. Nikolai church was established in Oslo. This congregation of Russian tradition is under the jurisdiction of the Patriarchate of Constantinople and was the first modern Orthodox congregation established in Norway. The 1960s and 1970s saw in influx of Orthodox from Greece in addition to the first known conversions of Norwegians in modern times. Through immigration from Russia, the former Yugoslavia, and other Eastern European countries, the number of Orthodox Christians in Norway has increased significantly since 1990.[1] The past decade has also seen the more permanent establishment of Orthodox communities of Serbian, Bulgarian and Romanian tradition, the priests of these communities under their corresponding jurisdictions.

The Ecumenical Patriarchate

[edit]

The Patriarchal Exarchate for Orthodox Parishes of Russian Tradition in Western Europe has one priest in Norway, specifically in Oslo. There are several affiliate or missionary communities in Bergen and Stavanger.

The Greek Community

[edit]

The primarily Greek congregation of the Annunciation of the Theotokos was founded in 1965 with main purpose of serving the Greek-speaking Orthodox community in Norway. This church is under the jurisdiction of Metropolitan Cleopas (Strongylis) of Sweden and all of Scandinavia, and is based in Stockholm. The congregation celebrates the Divine Liturgy approximately once a month through the services of f. Alexandros.

The Serbian Patriarchate

[edit]
St. Nikolai Eastern Orthodox Church in Oslo

The first modern Orthodox congregation, St. Nikolai Orthodox Church, was formerly under the jurisdiction of the Patriarchal Exarchate for Orthodox Parishes of Russian Tradition in Western Europe but is now part of the Serbian Orthodox Church. While it adheres to the Russian or Slavic tradition, the Norwegian language is always used along with Slavonic and at times used exclusively. This reflects the missionary tradition of the Orthodox Church, as in for example the work of Sts. Cyril and Methodius, renowned for helping to create a local alphabet (Cyrillic) in order to translate both the Holy Bible as well as the various liturgical books of the Eastern Orthodox Church. as well St. George's chapel at Neiden. In addition there is a small skete dedicated to St. Tryphon of Pechenga, home to two monks.

The Moscow Patriarchate

[edit]
The Church in Barentsburg
St.Hallvard Eastern Orthodox Church. Oslo.

The main parish of the Moscow Patriarchate, St. Olga's, was founded in Oslo in 1996. Today, there are also independent churches under the Moscow Patriarchate in Stavanger, Bergen, Trondheim and Kirkenes. In addition, the Moscow Patriarchate sponsors work in Tromsø and in the Russian settlement of Barentsburg on Svalbard. Russian communities in northern Norway have often been attended to by Russian clergymen of the Moscow Patriarchate. there is two congregations under One in Oslo: «St.Hallvard orthodox Parish» : f.Olav Lerseth and «The Annunciation of the Holy Virgin Mary Orthodox Parish» in Bergen: f.Theodor Svane, both under Patriarchal Exarchate for Orthodox Parishes of Russian Tradition in Western Europe

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Eastern Orthodoxy in Norway.

Number of adherents

[edit]
Year Orthodox Percent
1980 ? ?
1990 1,222 0.02%
2000 2,315 0.05%
2005 5,028 0.10%
2010 8,492 0.17%
2011 9,894 0.20%
2012 11,205 0.22%
2013-2019 ? ?
2020 28.544 0,53%
2024 36,498 0,66%

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "06339: Members of Christian communities outside the Church of Norway, by religious communities, contents and year". Statistisk sentralbyrå. 2024. Retrieved 2024-11-27.
  2. ^ Statistics Norway
  3. ^ Statistics Norway
  4. ^ Bergen (2021-08-26). "SSB: Den ortodokse kirke vokser i Norge". Hellige Jomfru Marias Bebudelse Ortodokse Kirke (in Norwegian Bokmål). Retrieved 2022-10-17.
  5. ^ US State Dept 2022 report
[edit]
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