Christoforos Schuff
Christoforos Schuff | |
---|---|
Christoforos Schuff at the opening of an art exhibition in Mytilene, 2016 | |
Background information | |
Birth name | Christopher Michael Schuff |
Born |
Carmichael, Sacramento County, California U.S. | February 6, 1979
Origin | Sacramento, California |
Genres | |
Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter |
Years active | 1999–present |
Labels | Cellar Records |
Website | JustX.no |
Christoforos Schuff (born February 6, 1979 in Sacramento, California as Christopher Michael Schuff [1]) is a former Greek-Orthodox priest,[2][3] musician[4] and artist,[5][6] recognized for his humanitarian work and social activism.[7][1] He has held discourses on religion and society, social justice, human rights and participates in inter-faith dialogue.[8][9] Schuff has appeared in the media regularly, especially in Norway and Greece, since 2006.[10][11][12][13][14][15] He has been the subject of several documentaries[16][17] and in various programs in Europe and the United States for his work with refugees.[18][19][20]
Schuff has been described as "a bit unorthodox"[21] and "Colorful in black",[22] due to his way of life and stances on certain religious and social issues.[23]
Early life and education
Schuff was born in Carmichael, Sacramento County, California as the son of John W. Schuff and Lynn M. Mapes. Schuff has one older brother and in his teenage years resided periodically with two foster families. At 17 he was featured in The Sacramento Bee as an up-and-coming magician.[24]
Schuff was enrolled in two private, Christian schools until completing middle school and graduated from Rio Americano High School in 1997. He has 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 and organic agriculture.[25][26] He is a certified teacher (lektor) in Norway.[27]
Religious Life
Schuff attended several non-denominational churches in the Sacramento area throughout his childhood and youth.[16][28] From 2001 Schuff 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.[12] 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]
Schuff has said 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[29] and for advocating for fair and equal treatment of often marginalized groups such as immigrants, refugees, indigenous peoples and the poor.[30] In the Fall of 2010 he allowed a Serbian family from Kosovo to receive church asylum in his home, which also housed a chapel.[31][32] He started the organization "Filoxenos" in 2013, focusing on work with the Romani people,[33][34][35][36][37][38][39][40] beggars,[41][42][43][44][45] immigrants and refugees.[46][47][48] He has been noted for his role in the refugee crisis on Lesbos.[49][50][51] He has been active in the anti-war movement through his music and art, speeches and writings and he often ends his appearances with the phrase: "Fuck injustice and God damn the war!".[52][53] In 2013, Schuff received the Focus Award (Fokusprisen) from the deacons' association of the Norwegian Church, for his work with homeless Romani immigrants.[54] In 2015 he was given the Bridgebuilder Award (no:Brobyggerprisen) by the Norwegian Church Academy (Norske kirkeakademier) for his civic engagement for the poor.[55][56][57] On MLK Day 2017 he was awarded the MLK Non-Violence Prize (no:Ikkevoldsprisen), for his participation in non-violent political demonstrations, his "fearless stances" and work with the poor and refugees.[58][59] He received the LGBT+ Pride Award in 2017 from the National Association for Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals and Transgender People of Southern Norway.[60]
Marriage Equality
Schuff 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.[61][62] His position on marriage equality has been criticized [63][64] as being at odds with much of mainstream Christianity and the doctrine of the Orthodox Church.
Arrest
On April 10, 2016, Schuff was arrested for demonstrating without a permit in front of the Norwegian Parliament (Storting) together with five other demonstrators.[65] Schuff and the other demonstrators submitted peacefully to the arrest.[66] They were released April 11, 2016, charged with holding an unlawful demonstration and for refusing to obey police officer orders. Schuff was convicted by the District Court of Oslo.[67][68] For ideological reasons, Schuff has refused to pay the 11,000 Norwegian kroner (NOK) fine.[69][70] According to Schuff, 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.[71] Several weeks later Schuff spoke at a parliamentary hearing on this proposal.[72] 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.[73] While Schuff 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. Eventually Schuff will have to spend twenty-two days in jail for the conviction.[69]
Music and Art
As a musician and singer, Schuff uses the pseudonyms "JustX" and "Chris Padrino".[74][75] He periodically appears with his wife, using the name "Simpleminded".[76][77] 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"[78](2010) and several of his raps, including "War and More" (2011).[79][1] His music receives periodic radio play on NRK.[80] Schuffs art has been featured in a number of exhibitions,[81][82] with his art expressing social and political messages.[83] Schuff 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. Schuff appeared in a cameo role in the series Okkupert,[84] broadcast on TV2 and streamed on Netflix.
Personal life
Schuff married the Norwegian Hildegunn Marie Tønnessen in 2000 and they moved to Norway shortly thereafter and have three children together[17]. In the Fall of 2017 he filed for seperation and following the seperation has shared custody of their three common children[85]. The family has also previously lived extended periods of time in Greece since 2001.[86] For ideological reasons, Schuff does not own a personal vehicle[87] and he currently resides in a cabin in the forest of Greipstad in Songdalen in Southern Norway[85].
Health
In January 2013 it was revealed in an interview in Fædrelandsvennen that Schuff had been diagnosed with Follicular lymphoma in the Fall of 2012,[88] a form of cancer which, while indolent, is generally considered medically incurable after Stage I.[89][90]
Awards and recognition
Schuff has received various awards[91][92][93][58][94][95][96][60] for his humanitarian work and activism.
- Focus Award (Civil Service Award) (2013)
- Bridgebuilder Award (2015)
- MLK Non-Violence Award (2017)
- LGBT+ Pride Award (2017)
Discography
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 Clémence Bragard and Léa Dauplé (7 April 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 27 September 2016. Retrieved 31 March 2017.
- ↑ Ecumenical Patriarchate Retrieved March 31, 2017
- ↑ Exarchate of Constantinople Retrieved March 31, 2017
- ↑ Sorlandsavisen February 15, 2017 p. 34
- ↑ Marianne Jakobsen (21 June 2014). "Gjennom romfolks kameralinse" [Through the lens of the Roma] (in Norwegian). NRK. Archived from the original on 27 September 2016. Retrieved 31 March 2017.
- ↑ Kors:vei Nr. 3/2015 Archived 2016-10-10 at the Wayback Machine.
- ↑ Vårt Land, January 7, 2013 p. 3
- ↑ Emil Otto Syvertsen (10 April 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 27 September 2016. Retrieved 31 March 2017.
- ↑ Tørst Spring 2016, pp. 24 - 27
- ↑ Vårt Land, March 15, 2006 pp. 26 - 27
- ↑ NRK September 29, 2010
- 1 2 «God helg» (Fædrelandsvennen) December 24, 2010 s. 1, 8 - 9
- ↑ Fædrelandsvennen, January 4, 2011, p. 23
- ↑ Vårt Land, May 28, 2011 pp. 14 - 15
- ↑ Fædrelandsvennen, December 27, 2012, p.16
- 1 2 "Faderen på Greipstad" NRK, April 17, 2011
- 1 2 "Dokumentarserien 'Underveis': (9:12) Faderen fra Greipstad" [Documentary Series 'Underveis': (9:12) The Priest from Greipstad] (in Norwegian). NRK. 4 April 2012. Archived from the original on 29 March 2013. Retrieved 2 April 2017.
- ↑ Matt Vickery and Kelly Lynn Lunde (17 February 2016). "The Greek Island helping Syrian refugees". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 18 February 2016. Retrieved 1 April 2017.
- ↑ Public Radio International April 15, 2016
- ↑ PBS December 26, 2016
- ↑ Barbara Gigilini and Natasa Papanikolaou (10 October 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 26 October 2016. Retrieved 2 April 2017.
- ↑ NRK April 15, 2011
- ↑ Al Jazeera February 19, 2016
- ↑ Sylva, Bob (8 February 1996). "Tricks of the Trade". The Sacramento Bee. p. E1, E3.
- ↑ "God helg" (Fædrelandsvennen) September 22, 2012 pp. 20 - 23
- ↑ Fædrelandsvennen October 1, 2012 p. 12
- ↑ Dagen October 2, 2013
- ↑ Underveis (9:12) - NRK 2012/2013
- ↑ NRK December 23, 2008
- ↑ Adresseavisen August 3, 2016
- ↑ NRK October 21, 2010
- ↑ NRK November 16, 2010
- ↑ Fædrelandsvennen, December 6, 2010 p. 7
- ↑ NRK June 4, 2012
- ↑ Fædrelandsvennen, June 4, 2012
- ↑ NRK July 16, 2012
- ↑ Ny Tid, August 3, 2012, «Ny Tid» Number 27
- ↑ NRK August 7, 2012
- ↑ Er tiggernes venn [The friend of the beggars] (TV) (in Norwegian). Kristiansand, Norway. 25 September 2012. Archived from the original (News Broadcast) on 2 April 2017. Retrieved 2 April 2017.
- ↑ NRK December 21, 2012
- ↑ Aftenbladet July 20, 2012
- ↑ Fædrelandsvennen, July 20, 2012 pp. 1, 6 - 7
- ↑ Verdens Gang, July 20, 2012
- ↑ Fædrelandsvennen, July 21, 2012 p. 6
- ↑ NRK August 7, 2012 , m.m.
- ↑ NRK September 25, 2015
- ↑ Vita August 23, 2016
- ↑ Daniel Etter (5 October 2016). "Ode to Lesbos, the villagers who helped refugees – in pictures". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 14 December 2016. Retrieved 1 April 2017.
- ↑ Berliner Zeitung November 4, 2015
- ↑ Weser-Kurier, November 6, 2015
- ↑ Associated Press November 7, 2015
- ↑ Eivind Kristensen (22 September 2012). "Uortodoks" [Unorthodox]. Fædrelandsvennen (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on 1 April 2017. Retrieved 1 April 2017.
- ↑ Fædrelandsvennen December 15, 2014 p. 22
- ↑ NRK March 6, 2013
- ↑ Fædrelandsvennen, March 17, 2015
- ↑ NRK March 23, 2015
- ↑ Norske kirkeakademier
- 1 2 NRK January 12, 2017
- ↑ KPK (21 January 2017). "Roses for modige meninger" [Lauded for courageous stances]. Dagen (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on 2 February 2017. Retrieved 1 April 2017.
- 1 2 Aud Refseth (27 August 2017). "Kjemper for et rausere samfunn" [Fighting for a more generous society] (in Norwegian). NRK. Archived from the original on 8 January 2018. Retrieved 8 January 2018.
- ↑ Vårt Land, October 12, 2011 p. 3
- ↑ Nytt norsk kirkeblad nr 3-2013, pp. 27 - 32
- ↑ Fædrelandsvennen August 22, 2015
- ↑ Erlend Friestad (27 August 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 1 April 2017. Retrieved 1 April 2017.
- ↑ Fædrelandsvennen, April 12, 2016 p. 4
- ↑ Hans Dahle (10 April 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 2 April 2017. Retrieved 2 April 2017.
- ↑ Dagen May 31, 2016
- ↑ Fædrelandsvennen May 31, 2016
- 1 2 Dagen May 8, 2016
- ↑ NRK, April 17, 2016
- ↑ Adresseavisen April 20, 2016
- ↑ Stortinget 28 April 2016 Parliamentary Hearing on Prop. 90 L (2015-2016)
- ↑ Vårt Land, April 12, 2016, p.6
- ↑ Eivind Kristensen (22 September 2012). "Uortodoks" [Unorthodox]. Fædrelandsvennen (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on 1 April 2017. Retrieved 1 April 2017.
- ↑ Fædrelandsvennen, December 15, 2014 p.22
- ↑ Fædrelandsvennen, October 1, 2012 p. 12
- ↑ Fædrelandsvennen, December 15, 2015 p. 22
- ↑ Torgeir Eikeland (14 December 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 1 April 2017. Retrieved 1 April 2017.
- ↑ "God helg" (Fædrelandsvennen) September 22, 2012 pp. 20 – 23
- ↑ NRK December 15, 2014
- ↑ Svein Morten Havaas (6 June 2014). "Fokus på romfolk" [Focus on the Romani] (in Norwegian). Lister24. Archived from the original on 2 April 2017. Retrieved 2 April 2017.
- ↑ Dagen June 13, 2014
- ↑ NRK June 21, 2014
- ↑ IMDb-database
- 1 2 Birgitte Hoff Lysholm (25 December 2017). "De vet at de snart skal dø" [They know they will soon die] (in Norwegian). Dagbladet. Archived from the original on 8 January 2018. Retrieved 8 January 2018.
- ↑ Maria Ritzaleou (24 November 2015). "Ο παπάς από την Αλάσκα που σώζει πρόσφυγες" [The Pope from Alaska (California*) who saves refugees] (in Greek). Ethnos. Archived from the original on 11 March 2016. Retrieved 1 April 2017.
- ↑ STREK, Nr. 2, 2011, p. 19
- ↑ Eivind Kristensen (16 January 2013). "Er uhelbredelig kreftsyk" [Incurably ill with cancer]. Fædrelandsvennen (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on 13 March 2016. Retrieved 31 March 2017.
- ↑ Anne-Line Henriksen (2 September 2016). "Når den du elsker er livstruende syk" [When the one you love is terminally ill]. KK (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on 23 September 2016. Retrieved 31 March 2017.
- ↑ MacMillan Cancer Support - Follicular Lymphoma (Retrieved January 16, 2013)
- ↑ NRK March 6, 2013
- ↑ NRK March 23, 2015
- ↑ Fædrelandsvennen March 17, 2015
- ↑ Dagen January 21, 2017
- ↑ Sorlandsavisen January 17, 2017 pp. 1, 4
- ↑ Søgne og Songdalen Budstikke January 17, 2017
- ↑ NRK, SørlandsScenen, December 21, 2011
- ↑ NRK Sørlandet, December 15, 2014
External links
- Official website
- Christoforos Schuff on IMDb
- NRK-article: “Presten som må protestere” (“The Priest who must protest”) April 17, 2016
- Tørst-article: "Enlightenment in black" (Translated from Norwegian)