Chris O'Moore

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Chris O'Moore
Christoforos Schuff Mytilene 2016 P Avagiannos arr.jpg
Chris O'Moore holding the opening of an art exhibition in Mytilene in 2016
Background information
Born
Christopher Michael Schuff

(1979-02-06) February 6, 1979 (age 46)
Carmichael, Sacramento County, California U.S.
OriginSacramento, California
Genres
Occupation(s)Visual Artist, Composer, Singer-songwriter
Years active1999–present
LabelsCELLAR productions

Chris O'Moore (formerly Christoforos Schuff; born February 6, 1979, in Sacramento, California, as Christopher Michael Schuff [1] ) is a former Greek-Orthodox priest, [2] [3] [4] [5] musician [6] and artist [7] [8] recognized for his humanitarian work and social activism. [9] [1] He is known for his writings and discourses on religion and society, social justice, human rights and participation in inter-faith dialogue. [10] [11] O'Moore has appeared in the media regularly, especially in Norway and Greece, since 2006. [12] [13] [14] [15] [16] [17] He lived full-time as a trans woman from 2020, known as "Christine", [18] [19] [20] [21] [22] [23] [24] [25] before detransitioning in 2023. [26] [27] [28] He has been the subject of several documentaries [29] [30] and in various programs in Europe and the United States for his work with refugees. [31] [32] [33]

Contents

O'Moore has been described as "unorthodox" (translated) [34] [35] and "colorful in black" (translated), [36] due to his way of life and stances on certain religious and social issues. [37]

Early life and education

O'Moore was born in Carmichael, Sacramento County, California as the child of John W. Schuff and Lynn M. Mapes. O'Moore has one older brother and in her teenage years resided periodically with two foster families. At 17 he was featured in The Sacramento Bee as an up-and-coming magician. [38]

O'Moore was enrolled in two private, Christian schools until completing middle school and graduated from Rio Americano High School in 1997. He holds a master's degree in religious studies from the University of Agder in Norway, a graduate diploma in music pedagogy from the Ministry of Education, Research and Religious Affairs of Greece, in addition to undergraduate studies in subjects such as linguistics, history, pedagogy, organic agriculture, gender and equality studies and law. [39] [40] He is a certified teacher (lektor) in Norway. [41] O'Moore is a certified Combat medic and has voluntarily done evacuation work on the frontline in Ukraine in 2022 and 2023. [42]

Religious life

O'Moore attended several non-denominational churches in the Sacramento area throughout his childhood and youth. [29] [43] From 2001 O'Moore resided for extended periods of time annually at the Saint Ignatios Monastery (Limonos Monastery) on the Greek Island of Lesvos where he was baptized in 2006. [14] He was ordained a deacon under the Archdiocese of Russian Orthodox churches in Western Europe in Paris in 2007 and a priest in 2008 in Oslo, [1] then a part of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople.

O'Moore expressed that he feared being excommunicated or defrocked by the Orthodox church for his positions and beliefs, commenting "I sometimes wonder if I can continue to wear the same dress as priests who have ideas totally opposed to mine." [1]

Civic engagement

He is known for promoting sustainable living [44] and for advocating for fair and equal treatment of often marginalized groups such as immigrants, refugees, the LGBT community, indigenous peoples and the poor. [45] In the Fall of 2010 he allowed a Serbian family from Kosovo to receive church asylum in his home, which also housed a chapel. [46] [47] He started the organization "Filoxenos" in 2013, focusing on work with the Romani people, [48] [49] [50] [51] [52] [53] [54] [55] beggars, [56] [57] [58] [59] [60] immigrants and refugees. [61] [62] [63] He has been noted for his role during the refugee crisis on Lesbos. [64] [65] [66] He has been active in the anti-war movement through his music and art, speeches and writings and he has often ended his appearances with the phrase: "Fuck injustice and God damn the war!". [34] [67] In 2013, O'Moore received the Focus Award (Fokusprisen) from the deacons' association of the Norwegian Church, for his work with homeless Romani immigrants. [68] In 2015 he was given the Bridgebuilder Award (Brobyggerprisen  [ no ]) by the Norwegian Church Academy (Norske kirkeakademier) for his civic engagement for the poor. [69] [70] [71] On MLK Day 2017 he was awarded the MLK Non-Violence Prize (Ikkevoldsprisen  [ no ]), for his participation in non-violent political demonstrations, his "fearless stances" and work with the poor and refugees. [72] [73] He received the LGBT+ Pride Award in 2017 from the National Association for Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals and Transgender People of Southern Norway. [74] In 2018 he was recognized by "The Gardens of the Righteous" (GARIWO) for his humanitarian work with refugees. [75]

Marriage equality

O'Moore has supported LGBT rights, same-sex marriage and marriage equality for what he has called "love in all its forms" [1] and the right for "people of age to live consensually in relationship forms of their choosing," including in polyamorous relationships. [76] [77] His position on marriage equality has been criticized [78] [79] as being at odds with much of mainstream Christianity and the doctrine of the Eastern Orthodox Church.

Arrest

O'Moore being arrested following a demonstration at the Norwegian Parliament - April 2016 Christoforos Schuff being arrested for civil disobedience at a peaceful protest at the Norwegian Parliament.jpg
O'Moore being arrested following a demonstration at the Norwegian Parliament – April 2016

On April 10, 2016, O'Moore was arrested for demonstrating without a permit in front of the Norwegian Parliament (Storting) together with five other demonstrators. [80] O'Moore and the other demonstrators submitted peacefully to the arrest. [81] They were released April 11, 2016, charged with holding an unlawful demonstration and for refusing to obey police officer orders. O'Moore was convicted by the District Court of Oslo. [82] [83] For ideological reasons, O'Moore refused to pay the 11,000 Norwegian kroner (NOK) fine. [84] [85] According to O'Moore, the peaceful demonstration was intended to cast light upon the situation of refugees and asylum seekers in Norway and Europe following a law proposal making the criteria for seeking and receiving asylum in Norway much stricter. [86] Several weeks later O'Moore spoke at a parliamentary hearing on this proposal. [87] According to the newspaper Vårt Land , it had been almost thirty years since the last time a priest had been arrested for a political demonstration in Norway. [88] While O'Moore appealed the conviction, citing the right to freedom of speech and the freedom of assembly, as stated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, his appeal was rejected. [84]

Music and art

O'Moore is well known for his art, performance art, and music, which often express social and political messages. [89] As a musician and singer, O'Moore has used the pseudonyms "justXx" and "King and Pauper" artistically. [34] [90] Previously he periodically appeared with his ex-wife, using the name "Simpleminded". [91] [92] Some of his music is characterized by social political messages, where he periodically uses profanity, such as in his anti-war song "God damn the war" [93] (2010) and several of his raps, including "War and More" (2011). [34] [1] His music has received periodic radio play on NRK. [94]

The art of O'Moore has been featured in a growing number of exhibitions, [95] [96] most recently at Stiklestad National Culture Centre  [ no ] (Stiklestad Nasjonale Kultursenter), Design and Architecture Norway  [ no ] (Design og arkitektur Norge) and Cultural Church Jakob  [ no ] (Kulturkirken Jakob). [97]

O'Moore has also done minor voiceover work for various film projects, such as for the film Yohan: The Child Wanderer and in the documentary "Med rett til å kapre", broadcast on NRK. O'Moore appeared in a cameo role in the series Okkupert, [98] broadcast on TV2 and streamed on Netflix.

Personal life

In 2000 O'Moore married the Norwegian Hildegunn Marie Tønnessen, they moved to Norway shortly thereafter and have three children together. [30] He and his family have previously lived extended periods of time in Greece since 2001. [99] In the Fall of 2017 he filed for separation [100] and the divorce was finalized in 2018. [101] Following the divorce he has had shared custody of their three common children. [100] O'Moore married Helene Harstad on Sicily in May 2019. [102] For ideological reasons, O'Moore has not owned a personal vehicle most of his adult life [103] and has lived for a number years in an off-grid cabin in the forest of Greipstad in Songdalen in Southern Norway. [100] He currently resides in Kristiansand.

Health

In January 2013 it was revealed in an interview in Fædrelandsvennen that O'Moore had been diagnosed with Follicular lymphoma in the Fall of 2012, [104] a form of cancer which, while indolent, is generally considered medically incurable after Stage I. [105] [106]

Awards and recognition

O'Moore has received various awards [107] [108] [109] [72] [110] [111] [112] [74] [75] for his humanitarian work and social activism.

Discography

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Bragard, Clémence; Dauplé, Léa (April 7, 2016). "Padre X: le rap, la croix et la banniere" [Padre X: the rap, the cross and the banner] (in French). Terminus Europe. Archived from the original on September 27, 2016. Retrieved March 31, 2017.
  2. ↑ Jasmine Marie Agas Ramos (March 31, 2025). "Aldersforskjellen på 64 år hindrer ikke disse venninnene å lage utstilling sammen" [An age difference of 64 years doesn’t stop these friends from having an exhibition together] (in Norwegian). KRS Avis . Retrieved June 1, 2025.
  3. ↑ Ecumenical Patriarchate . Retrieved March 31, 2017
  4. ↑ Exarchate of Constantinople Archived October 14, 2014, at the Wayback Machine . Retrieved March 31, 2017
  5. ↑ Karlsen, Kjetil (June 9, 2020). "Hadde dette skjedd for 30 år siden, hadde jeg vært dødsdømt" [Had this happened 30 years ago it would be a death sentence] (in Norwegian). Grimstad Adressetidende . Retrieved January 24, 2021.[ dead link ]
  6. ↑ Sorlandsavisen February 15, 2017 p. 34
  7. ↑ Marianne Jakobsen (June 21, 2014). "Gjennom romfolks kameralinse" [Through the lens of the Roma] (in Norwegian). NRK. Archived from the original on September 27, 2016. Retrieved March 31, 2017.
  8. ↑ Kors:vei Nr. 3/2015 Archived October 10, 2016, at the Wayback Machine
  9. ↑ Vårt Land , January 7, 2013 p. 3
  10. ↑ Emil Otto Syvertsen (April 10, 2014). "Sacra Art Festival og jakten på det hellige" [The Sacred Art Festival and the search for the sacred]. Fædrelandsvennen (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on September 27, 2016. Retrieved March 31, 2017.
  11. ↑ Tørst Spring 2016, pp. 24 – 27
  12. ↑ Vårt Land , March 15, 2006 pp. 26 – 27
  13. ↑ NRK September 29, 2010
  14. 1 2 "God helg" (Fædrelandsvennen) December 24, 2010 s. 1, 8 – 9
  15. ↑ Fædrelandsvennen, January 4, 2011, p. 23
  16. ↑ Vårt Land , May 28, 2011 pp. 14 – 15
  17. ↑ Fædrelandsvennen, December 27, 2012, p.16
  18. ↑ Grimstad Adressetidende, 11 June 2020 p. 16
  19. ↑ Lillesands-Posten, 16 June 2020 p. 25
  20. ↑ Lillesands-Posten, 19 June 2020 p. 5
  21. ↑ Christian Nørstebø (June 20, 2020). "Nå er jeg bare kjempestolt" [Now I am just really proud] (in Norwegian). Lillesands-Posten. Archived from the original on November 23, 2020. Retrieved January 24, 2021.
  22. ↑ Anne Gro Ballestad (June 20, 2020). "Her lager de Prideparade til sjøs i sommer" [Pride-Parade at sea this summer] (in Norwegian). Agderposten. Archived from the original on January 24, 2021. Retrieved January 24, 2021.
  23. ↑ Agderposten, 20 June 2020 p. 50
  24. ↑ Lillesands-Posten, 23 June 2020 pp. 20 - 21
  25. ↑ Grimstad Adressetidende, 8 August 2020 p. 17
  26. ↑ O'Moore, Christine Johnsdottir Schuff (February 5, 2023), ""Jeg har gått meg lei av å være "den eksotiske andre", noe sært"", fvn.no (in Norwegian), retrieved March 13, 2023
  27. ↑ Eide, Jan Oddvar (March 18, 2024), ""Norges kanskje største transflagg er på Sørlandet"", fvn.no (in Norwegian), retrieved March 27, 2024
  28. ↑ Chris O’Moore (June 7, 2025). "Fanget av kjønn" [Imprisoned by gender] (in Norwegian). Fædrelandsvennen . Retrieved June 7, 2025.
  29. 1 2 "Faderen på Greipstad" NRK, April 17, 2011
  30. 1 2 "Dokumentarserien 'Underveis': (9:12) Faderen fra Greipstad" [Documentary Series 'Underveis': (9:12) The Priest from Greipstad] (in Norwegian). NRK. April 4, 2012. Archived from the original on March 29, 2013. Retrieved April 2, 2017.
  31. ↑ Matt Vickery and Kelly Lynn Lunde (February 17, 2016). "The Greek Island helping Syrian refugees". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on February 18, 2016. Retrieved April 1, 2017.
  32. ↑ Public Radio International April 15, 2016
  33. ↑ Brabant, Michael (December 26, 2016). "Greek fishing village welcomes migrants, while others turn them away". PBS NewsHour .
  34. 1 2 3 4 Kristensen, Eivind (September 22, 2012). "Uortodoks" [Unorthodox]. Fædrelandsvennen (in Norwegian). Retrieved April 1, 2017.[ dead link ]
  35. ↑ Barbara Gigilini and Natasa Papanikolaou (October 10, 2016). "Η φιλία του Δημήτρη (που από τα 14 δήλωνε κορίτσι) με τον πατέρα Χριστόφορο, η Συκαμιά και το μήνυμα για τον σεβασμό στη διαφορετικότητα" [The friendship of Dimitrios (who declared himself a girl at 14) with Father Christoforos: Sykaminea and the message of respect for diversity] (in Greek). Huffington Post Greece. Archived from the original on October 26, 2016. Retrieved April 2, 2017.
  36. ↑ Norea Media 17 April 2011
  37. ↑ Al Jazeera February 19, 2016
  38. ↑ Sylva, Bob (February 8, 1996). "Tricks of the Trade". The Sacramento Bee . p. E1, E3.
  39. ↑ "God helg" (Fædrelandsvennen) September 22, 2012 pp. 20 – 23
  40. ↑ Fædrelandsvennen October 1, 2012 p. 12
  41. ↑ "Dagen October 2, 2013". Archived from the original on April 1, 2017. Retrieved April 1, 2017.
  42. ↑ Fædrelandsvennen, 6. februar 2023
  43. ↑ Underveis (9:12) – NRK 2012/2013
  44. ↑ NRK December 23, 2008
  45. ↑ Adresseavisen August 3, 2016
  46. ↑ NRK October 21, 2010
  47. ↑ NRK November 16, 2010
  48. ↑ Fædrelandsvennen, December 6, 2010 p. 7
  49. ↑ NRK June 4, 2012
  50. ↑ "Fædrelandsvennen, June 4, 2012". Archived from the original on October 17, 2014. Retrieved April 1, 2017.
  51. ↑ NRK July 16, 2012
  52. ↑ Ny Tid, August 3, 2012, "Ny Tid" Number 27
  53. ↑ NRK August 7, 2012
  54. ↑ Er tiggernes venn [The friend of the beggars] (TV) (in Norwegian). Kristiansand, Norway. September 25, 2012. Archived from the original (News Broadcast) on April 2, 2017. Retrieved April 2, 2017.
  55. ↑ NRK December 21, 2012
  56. ↑ Aftenbladet July 20, 2012 Archived October 15, 2014, at the Wayback Machine
  57. ↑ Fædrelandsvennen, July 20, 2012 pp. 1, 6 – 7
  58. ↑ Verdens Gang , July 20, 2012
  59. ↑ Fædrelandsvennen, July 21, 2012 p. 6
  60. ↑ NRK August 7, 2012 , m.m.
  61. ↑ NRK September 25, 2015
  62. ↑ Vita August 23, 2016
  63. ↑ Daniel Etter (October 5, 2016). "Ode to Lesbos, the villagers who helped refugees – in pictures". The Guardian . Archived from the original on December 14, 2016. Retrieved April 1, 2017.
  64. ↑ Berliner Zeitung November 4, 2015
  65. ↑ Weser-Kurier, November 6, 2015
  66. ↑ Associated Press November 7, 2015
  67. ↑ Fædrelandsvennen December 15, 2014 p. 22
  68. ↑ NRK March 6, 2013
  69. ↑ "Fædrelandsvennen, March 17, 2015". Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved April 1, 2017.
  70. ↑ NRK March 23, 2015
  71. ↑ Norske kirkeakademier
  72. 1 2 NRK January 12, 2017
  73. ↑ KPK (January 21, 2017). "Roses for modige meninger" [Lauded for courageous stances]. Dagen (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on February 2, 2017. Retrieved April 1, 2017.
  74. 1 2 Aud Refseth (August 27, 2017). "Kjemper for et rausere samfunn" [Fighting for a more generous society] (in Norwegian). NRK. Archived from the original on January 8, 2018. Retrieved January 8, 2018.
  75. 1 2 "Christoforos Schuff".
  76. ↑ Vårt Land , October 12, 2011 p. 3
  77. ↑ Nytt norsk kirkeblad nr 3-2013, pp. 27 – 32
  78. ↑ "Fædrelandsvennen August 22, 2015". Archived from the original on April 2, 2017. Retrieved April 1, 2017.
  79. ↑ Erlend Friestad (August 27, 2015). "Villig til å ofre jobben for homo-ja" [Willing to offer his job for his gay 'yes']. Vårt Land (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on April 1, 2017. Retrieved April 1, 2017.
  80. ↑ "Fædrelandsvennen, April 12, 2016 p. 4". Archived from the original on April 2, 2017. Retrieved April 1, 2017.
  81. ↑ Hans Dahle (April 10, 2016). "Detienen a sacerdote por protestar contra política de inmigración de Noruega" [They arrest the priest for protesting against immigration policy in Norway] (in Spanish). Radio Latin-Amerika. Archived from the original on April 2, 2017. Retrieved April 2, 2017.
  82. ↑ "Dagen May 31, 2016". Archived from the original on April 2, 2017. Retrieved April 1, 2017.
  83. ↑ "Fædrelandsvennen May 31, 2016". Archived from the original on April 2, 2017. Retrieved April 1, 2017.
  84. 1 2 "Dagen May 8, 2016". Archived from the original on April 1, 2017. Retrieved April 1, 2017.
  85. ↑ NRK, April 17, 2016
  86. ↑ Adresseavisen April 20, 2016
  87. ↑ Stortinget April 28, 2016, Parliamentary Hearing on Prop. 90 L (2015–2016)
  88. ↑ Vårt Land , April 12, 2016, p.6
  89. ↑ NRK June 21, 2014
  90. ↑ Fædrelandsvennen, December 15, 2014 p.22
  91. ↑ Fædrelandsvennen, October 1, 2012 p. 12
  92. ↑ Fædrelandsvennen, December 15, 2015 p. 22
  93. ↑ Torgeir Eikeland (December 14, 2014). "Gatepresten har spilt inn julesang og laget musikkvideo" [The priest of the street has released a new song and music video]. Fædrelandsvennen (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on April 1, 2017. Retrieved April 1, 2017.
  94. ↑ NRK December 15, 2014
  95. ↑ Svein Morten Havaas (June 6, 2014). "Fokus på romfolk" [Focus on the Romani] (in Norwegian). Lister24. Archived from the original on April 2, 2017. Retrieved April 2, 2017.
  96. ↑ Dagen June 13, 2014
  97. ↑ "Queer Spirit: fortellinger om skeiv tro, spiritualitet og meningen med livet", 2022, p.20
  98. ↑ IMDb-database
  99. ↑ Maria Ritzaleou (November 24, 2015). "Ο παπάς από την Αλάσκα που σώζει πρόσφυγες" [The Pope from Alaska (California*) who saves refugees]. Ethnos (in Greek). Archived from the original on March 11, 2016. Retrieved April 1, 2017.
  100. 1 2 3 Birgitte Hoff Lysholm (December 25, 2017). "De vet at de snart skal dø" [They know they will soon die]. Dagbladet (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on January 8, 2018. Retrieved January 8, 2018.
  101. ↑ Aase, Inger Marie (2018). Å komme til seg selv[To come to ones self]. Norway: Efrem. pp. 277–287. ISBN   978-82-92922-51-4.
  102. ↑ Fædrelandsvennen June 29, 2019, p. 51
  103. ↑ STREK, Nr. 2, 2011, p. 19
  104. ↑ Eivind Kristensen (January 16, 2013). "Er uhelbredelig kreftsyk" [Incurably ill with cancer]. Fædrelandsvennen (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on March 13, 2016. Retrieved March 31, 2017.
  105. ↑ Anne-Line Henriksen (September 2, 2016). "Når den du elsker er livstruende syk" [When the one you love is terminally ill]. KK (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on September 23, 2016. Retrieved March 31, 2017.
  106. ↑ MacMillan Cancer Support – Follicular Lymphoma (Retrieved January 16, 2013)
  107. ↑ NRK March 6, 2013
  108. ↑ NRK March 23, 2015
  109. ↑ "Fædrelandsvennen March 17, 2015". Archived from the original on April 1, 2017. Retrieved April 1, 2017.
  110. ↑ Dagen January 21, 2017 Archived February 2, 2017, at the Wayback Machine
  111. ↑ Sorlandsavisen January 17, 2017 pp. 1, 4
  112. ↑ Søgne og Songdalen Budstikke January 17, 2017
  113. ↑ NRK, SørlandsScenen, December 21, 2011
  114. ↑ NRK Sørlandet, December 15, 2014
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