A stall run by representatives of the St. Elisabeth Convent in Minsk is operating at the Bergen Julemarked Christmas fair in Norway, reports Bergens Tidende. The nuns are offering visitors matryoshka dolls, icons, and other souvenirs. Their participation in the event has triggered public reaction.

Earlier, the Church of Sweden officially recommended not inviting nuns from the St. Elisabeth Convent, citing its subordination to the Moscow Patriarchate under Patriarch Kirill Gundyaev, as well as alleged links between the convent and Russian military intelligence (GRU), and public statements interpreted as justifying Russia’s war against Ukraine. Against this backdrop, the appearance of the convent’s stall at a major public event in Bergen has heightened concerns among local communities and sparked discussion.

The Belarusian association Razam in Norway emphasizes that the convent operates within the ideological framework of the “Russian World” concept and promotes the rhetoric of a so-called “holy war” against the West and Ukraine. Activists warn that by purchasing “charity” goods from the convent’s stall, people risk indirectly supporting structures loyal to Putin’s war.According to Bergens Tidende, the organizers of Bergen Julemarked have already stated that the stall will not receive any additional bookings for the remaining days of the fair. They also plan to revise participation rules to prevent similar organizations from taking part in the future