Chris O'Moore (formerly Christoforos Schuff; born February 6, 1979, in Sacramento, California, as Christopher Michael Schuff) is a former Greek-Orthodox priest,Ecumenical Patriarchate . Retrieved March 31, 2017Exarchate of Constantinople . Retrieved March 31, 2017 musicianSorlandsavisen February 15, 2017 p. 34 and artistKors:vei Nr. 3/2015 recognized for his humanitarian work and social activism.Vårt Land, January 7, 2013 p. 3 He is known for his writings and discourses on religion and society, social justice, human rights and participation in inter-faith dialogue.Tørst Spring 2016, pp. 24 – 27 O'Moore has appeared in the media regularly, especially in Norway and Greece, since 2006.Vårt Land, March 15, 2006 pp. 26 – 27NRK September 29, 2010"God helg" (Fædrelandsvennen) December 24, 2010 s. 1, 8 – 9Fædrelandsvennen, January 4, 2011, p. 23Vårt Land, May 28, 2011 pp. 14 – 15Fædrelandsvennen, December 27, 2012, p.16 He lived full-time as a trans woman from 2020, known as "Christine",Grimstad Adressetidende, 11 June 2020 p. 16Lillesands-Posten, 16 June 2020 p. 25Lillesands-Posten, 19 June 2020 p. 5Agderposten, 20 June 2020 p. 50Lillesands-Posten, 23 June 2020 pp. 20 - 21Grimstad Adressetidende, 8 August 2020 p. 17 before detransitioning in 2023. He has been the subject of several documentaries"Faderen på Greipstad" NRK, April 17, 2011 and in various programs in Europe and the United States for his work with refugees.Public Radio International April 15, 2016
O'Moore has been described as "unorthodox" (translated) and "colorful in black" (translated),Norea Media 17 April 2011 due to his way of life and stances on certain religious and social issues.Al Jazeera February 19, 2016
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.
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."God helg" (Fædrelandsvennen) September 22, 2012 pp. 20 – 23Fædrelandsvennen October 1, 2012 p. 12 He is a certified teacher (lektor) in Norway. O'Moore is a certified combat medic and has voluntarily done evacuation work on the frontline in Ukraine in 2022 and 2023.Fædrelandsvennen, 6. februar 2023
Religious life O'Moore attended several non-denominational churches in the Sacramento area throughout his childhood and youth.Underveis (9:12) – NRK 2012/2013 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. 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, 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."
Civic engagement He is known for promoting sustainable livingNRK December 23, 2008 and for advocating for fair and equal treatment of often marginalized groups such as immigrants, refugees, the LGBT community, indigenous peoples and the poor.Adresseavisen August 3, 2016 In the Fall of 2010 he allowed a Serbian family from Kosovo to receive church asylum in his home, which also housed a chapel.NRK October 21, 2010NRK November 16, 2010 He started the organization "Filoxenos" in 2013, focusing on work with the Romani people,Fædrelandsvennen, December 6, 2010 p. 7NRK June 4, 2012NRK July 16, 2012Ny Tid, August 3, 2012, "Ny Tid" Number 27NRK August 7, 2012NRK December 21, 2012 beggars,Aftenbladet July 20, 2012 Fædrelandsvennen, July 20, 2012 pp. 1, 6 – 7Verdens Gang, July 20, 2012 Fædrelandsvennen, July 21, 2012 p. 6NRK August 7, 2012 , m.m. immigrants and refugees.NRK September 25, 2015Vita August 23, 2016 He has been noted for his role during the refugee crisis on Lesbos.Berliner Zeitung November 4, 2015 Weser-Kurier, November 6, 2015Associated Press November 7, 2015 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!".Fædrelandsvennen December 15, 2014 p. 22 In 2013, O'Moore received the Focus Award (Fokusprisen) from the deacons' association of the Norwegian Church, for his work with homeless Romani immigrants.NRK March 6, 2013 In 2015 he was given the Bridgebuilder Award () by the Norwegian Church Academy (Norske kirkeakademier) for his civic engagement for the poor.NRK March 23, 2015Norske kirkeakademier On MLK Day 2017 he was awarded the MLK Non-Violence Prize (), for his participation in non-violent political demonstrations, his "fearless stances" and work with the poor and refugees.NRK January 12, 2017 He received the LGBT+ Pride Award in 2017 from the National Association for Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals and Transgender People of Southern Norway. In 2018 he was recognized by "The Gardens of the Righteous" (GARIWO) for his humanitarian work with refugees.
Marriage equality O'Moore has supported LGBT rights, same-sex marriage and marriage equality for what he has called "love in all its forms" and the right for "people of age to live consensually in relationship forms of their choosing," including in polyamorous relationships.Vårt Land, October 12, 2011 p. 3Nytt norsk kirkeblad nr 3-2013, pp. 27 – 32 His position on marriage equality has been criticized as being at odds with much of mainstream Christianity and the doctrine of the Eastern Orthodox Church.
Arrest
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. O'Moore and the other demonstrators submitted peacefully to the arrest. 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. For ideological reasons, O'Moore refused to pay the 11,000 Norwegian kroner (NOK) fine.NRK, April 17, 2016 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.Adresseavisen April 20, 2016 Several weeks later O'Moore spoke at a parliamentary hearing on this proposal.Stortinget April 28, 2016, Parliamentary Hearing on Prop. 90 L (2015–2016) 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.Vårt Land, April 12, 2016, p.6 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.
Global Sumud Flotilla O'Moore participated in the Global Sumud Flotilla for Gaza in 2025 and 2026, where he was arrested by the Israeli police and beaten up.
Music and art O'Moore is well known for his art, performance art, and music, which often express social and political messages.NRK June 21, 2014 As a musician and singer, O'Moore has used the pseudonyms "justXx" and "King and Pauper" artistically.Fædrelandsvennen, December 15, 2014 p.22 Previously he periodically appeared with his ex-wife, using the name "Simpleminded".Fædrelandsvennen, October 1, 2012 p. 12Fædrelandsvennen, December 15, 2015 p. 22 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"(2010) and several of his raps, including "War and More" (2011). His music has received periodic radio play on NRK.NRK December 15, 2014
The art of O'Moore has been featured in a growing number of exhibitions,Dagen June 13, 2014 most recently at (), () and (Kulturkirken Jakob)."Queer Spirit: fortellinger om skeiv tro, spiritualitet og meningen med livet", 2022, p.20
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,IMDb-database 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. He and his family have previously lived extended periods of time in Greece since 2001. In the Fall of 2017 he filed for separation and the divorce was finalized in 2018. Following the divorce he has had shared custody of their three common children. O'Moore married Helene Harstad on Sicily in May 2019.Fædrelandsvennen June 29, 2019, p. 51 For ideological reasons, O'Moore has not owned a personal vehicle most of his adult lifeSTREK, Nr. 2, 2011, p. 19 and has lived for a number years in an off-grid cabin in the forest in Greipstad in Songdalen Municipality in Southern Norway. 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, a form of cancer which, while indolent, is generally considered medically incurable after Stage I.MacMillan Cancer Support – Follicular Lymphoma (Retrieved January 16, 2013)
Awards and recognition O'Moore has received various awardsNRK March 6, 2013NRK March 23, 2015Dagen January 21, 2017 Sorlandsavisen January 17, 2017 pp. 1, 4Søgne og Songdalen Budstikke January 17, 2017 for his humanitarian work and social activism.
Focus Award (Civil Service Award) (2013) Bridgebuilder Award (2015) MLK Non-Violence Award (2017) LGBT+ Pride Award (2017) The Garden of the Righteous (2018)
Discography
My Friend – single (2009/2012) God damn the war – single (2011) War and More – single (2011) Christmas Song – single (2011)NRK, SørlandsScenen, December 21, 2011 Recuerdo – single (2012) Hellige natt – single (2014)NRK Sørlandet, December 15, 2014 Que locura – single (2014) Para siempre – single (2015), under the pseudonym Chris Padrino Om vi gir faen – single (2016) Different Worlds – single (2011 / 2016) Fuck or fight – single (2018) What they say – single (2023) As I Be – EP (2023) Gamle voner – single (2025) Voices from Studio 214 – EP (2025) More Voices from Studio 214 – EP (2025) Chest of Drawers – single (2025) Only Way – single (2025) The Epilogue – EP (2025) Didn't fall – single (2025) Didn't fall again – single (2025)
References
External links
NRK-article: “Presten som må protestere” (“The Priest who must protest”) April 17, 2016 Tørst-article: "Enlightenment in black" (Translated from Norwegian)