Christians Find a Home in the Orthodox Church: “The Church of Sweden Feels Less Christian”

While the Church of Sweden loses tens of thousands of members every year, the Orthodox Church is faring much better. According to its followers, one finds a more Christian church there and can avoid sermons about the climate.

In recent years, the Church of Sweden has become increasingly politicized and woke, a direction in which many do not recognize themselves. In the Orthodox Church, many Christians find a more Christian church.

“The more I learned about Christianity, the less the Church of Sweden felt Christian,” says 21-year-old Isabelle Kaldén to state television.

Several Orthodox churches have noticed an influx of members, especially among the younger.

Church of Sweden priest / Orthodox Church in Överkalix. Photo: Facsimile Facebook

Lack of Meaning

One person who left the Church of Sweden for the Orthodox Church is Mikael Fälthammar, who like his father is a priest. During his studies, he came into contact with the Orthodox Church and stayed. Today, he is a priest in the Orthodox Parish of the Resurrection of Christ in Gothenburg.

Fälthammar believes that the increased interest is due to many people experiencing a lack of meaning in the secularized society. He also points to the Orthodox Church’s steadfast tradition as an attraction, compared to the Church of Sweden’s adaptation to contemporary trends.

“Those who come to us have often discovered Christianity online and gone to the nearest church, sometimes the Church of Sweden or a free church. But sometimes they feel that they hear more about the climate than about the gospel.”