Liechtenstein scenery
The Principality of Liechtenstein is a European microstate between Austria and Switzerland. With an area of only sixty-two square miles and a population of about 40,000, Liechtenstein is ranked among the richest countries in the world, which, in addition to the financial sector, has highly developed industry (including microelectronics) and agriculture. It does not have its own currency; its official currency is the Swiss franc. The principality’s borders are guarded by the Swiss police, and goods transfer is controlled by the Swiss customs. Liechtenstein (like Switzerland) is not a member of the EU, so there may be problems regulated by local legislation when moving goods from the EU.
Paschal service at St. Laurence’s Church in Schaan
Although the Roman Catholic Church (which has the status of the national church) is rather strong in Liechtenstein, it is hard for the microstate to oppose the powerful European liberalism, with its imposition of same-sex “unions”, abortions and the like. Unfortunately, laws that violate the foundations of the Biblical teaching on marriage and the sanctity of life have become commonplace in the principality, as in many other countries of the “Old World”. In 2023, the Catholic Archbishop Wolfgang Haas, who had actively protested the promotion of the so-called rainbow “equality”, was replaced by Bishop Benno Elbs from Feldkirch (Austria) as interim Administrator of the Archdiocese of Vaduz. The latter shares Pope Francis’ position on the possibility of “blessing” same-sex “couples”. However, thanks to the native Lichtensteinians’ conservatism and their negative attitude towards external influence, it can be assumed that despite legislative innovations, there will be no significant changes in people’s daily lives—at least in the near future.
Kirill Georgievich Deisha But in a situation where the principality’s largest denomination having destroyed the once-solid foundation of the Biblical teaching on the family, is building its “new” home on the shifting sands of anti-Christian liberalism, it’s little wonder that locals are becoming increasingly indifferent to the Catholic faith. In the light of weakening Catholicism and a general decline in spirituality, it is very encouraging to see the steady development of Orthodox Christianity in Liechtenstein. During my short trip to this picturesque land, I managed to talk with somebody who currently represents the interests of local Orthodox Christians before the country’s authorities. Kirill Georgievich Deisha, who had worked in the educational system for many years before retiring, is also known for his writings on the history of Orthodox Christianity in Liechtenstein. He found out that the first Orthodox services in the principality were celebrated about eighty years ago, shortly after the end of World War II, for Russian refugees who had made up their residence in these parts. A Russian priest from Zurich (Switzerland) served here at that time.
After over thirty years, in the late 1970s, Greek migrant workers began to come to Liechtenstein, and the first Orthodox community was established for them under the jurisdiction of the Patriarchate of Constantinople in 1983. Thirteen years later, in 1996, a Serbian parish appeared in the principality. In 2008, the Orthodox joined together to form an association open to all jurisdictions.
At present, the Pan-Orthodox Association is headed by a committee consisting of Liechtenstein citizens of Russian, Greek, Serbian and Ukrainian origin. Kirill Deisha, as the founder of the Association, emphasizes that the reputation of Orthodoxy is highest when there is no division by jurisdictions and national “ghettos”.
“Events in world politics or national prejudices should not overshadow the Divine light the Orthodox Christian faith shines with,” says Kirill Georgievich. “It is easier for us laypeople to maintain unity here on a small scale than on a global level, where relations between the Patriarchates have become more complicated in recent years. We should not forget that our prayer is ‘for the peace of the whole world, for the welfare of the Holy Churches of God, and for the union of all.’”
According to Kirill Deisha, the distinctive feature of Orthodox life in Liechtenstein is that each community retains its jurisdictional affiliation, but at the same time the Pan–Orthodox Association has a coordinating role: to represent Orthodox residents in accordance with civil law and maintain contacts with the country’s authorities.
As a rule, the faithful from Liechtenstein attend the Liturgy in one of the churches in nearby cities and towns of Austria or Switzerland (transport links are very good). Several times a year, clergy from these cities and towns travel to serve in Liechtenstein, bless houses, baptize children, visit the sick, etc. The Pan-Orthodox Association makes arrangements with the authorities for all clergy’s visits and resolves material issues related to them. Currently, priests of the Patriarchates of Constantinople, Serbia and Romania serve in Liechtenstein. Representatives of the Moscow Patriarchate have not visited since at least 2022.
St. Peter’s Chapel, Obergass, Schaan
Services are celebrated in church buildings provided free of charge by the State or local communities. There are currently three such churches: the historic St. Peter’s Chapel (founded in the fifth century—that is, before the Great Schism), St. John’s Church (Johanneskirche on Schaanerstrasse in Vaduz), and the Cathedral Church of St. Laurence in Schaan—Paschal services and weddings are usually held there. The faithful celebrate church feasts according to their traditions and calendars: for example, the Serbs on the old calendar, and the Greeks on the new calendar. This is convenient for migrants from Orthodox countries accustomed to the calendars of their Local Churches.
St. John’s Church on Schaanerstrasse in Vaduz
Orthodox Christians normally pray at the Lutheran church, Johanneskirche. Its interior can be changed to bring it closer to that of an Orthodox church. Before the service, analogions with icons and candlestands with sand are placed inside the church. The moveable iconostasis, installed to the right of the entrance, is moved close to the altar, and the benches are slightly shifted. Of course, the architecture of the building is not altered, but the blessing of Orthodox Christian prayer transforms people, regardless of where it is performed. The most important thing is that people have the desire and time to pray, confess and receive Communion.
At the Orthodox service at St. John’s Church
The usual interior of St. John’s Church
The last census conducted in 2020 found that 574 Orthodox Christians (citizens or those with permanent residence permits) live in Liechtenstein—22.5 percent more than in 2010. These figures do not include temporary Orthodox Christian workers or refugees of the current Russian-Ukrainian war. According to some information, around 1,000 refugees from Ukraine have found shelter in Liechtenstein. Most of them are either Orthodox or Uniates (Greek Catholics). It is no coincidence that since 2022, a Greek Catholic preacher from Italy has been visiting Liechtenstein regularly, intending to gather the Uniates under his wing. However, he faced unexpected opposition from the Roman Catholic clergy, who have great respect for the Orthodox. However, after the change of hierarch, the Uniates gained access to the Catholic churches in Liechtenstein with the support of the above-mentioned Bishop Benno Elbs.
St. Laurence’s Church in Schaan The Uniates do not show off their identity, sometimes posing as “Ukrainian Orthodox”.
“I even had to write a refutation to a local newspaper regarding this,” Kirill Deisha recalls. “Some journalists published a report about Uniates under the heading, ‘Orthodox Christians Celebrating Pascha.’”
“On the whole, Orthodox Ukrainians from our community are quite satisfied with the organization of church life here,” Kirill Georgievich continues. “However, after the outbreak of the war several people suddenly declared that they were leaving us. But there were no serious conflicts. I believe about three of them joined the Uniates, although before that they had always identified themselves as Orthodox.”
According to Deisha, so far the Association has no plans to acquire ownership of any premises for celebrating services. There is reason to assume that the authorities would be opposed to it, and many locals may object to the purchase of land by “foreigners”. We should also take into account the high costs of maintaining such premises.
Schaan-Vaduz Train Station
“The Catholic churches here belong to the state, which maintains them. We don’t need such expenses,” Kirill Georgievich is convinced. “In addition, if a law on the status of faiths in Liechtenstein is passed (it is currently being considered in Parliament), we will be able to gain access to unused churches (and there are many of them). We will also have the opportunity to organize classes on the Basics of Orthodoxy in schools, although it is implemented in practice if there are at least six Orthodox students. By the way, formal recognition of our religious organization is possible provided that at least 200 Orthodox believers live in the country. We will not reach this figure by counting the Greeks, the Serbs or the Russians separately. Our unity is reflected in the name—Christlich-Orthodoxe Religionsgemeinschaft im Fürstentum Liechtenstein (‘the Orthodox Christian Community in the Principality of Liechtenstein’). I really hope that despite all the global cataclysms, the community will remain in its current composition, with people of different nationalities—Russians, Ukrainians, Serbs, Greeks and Romanians. Our unity—the absence of national and jurisdictional divisions and our steadfastness in upholding our faith and Christian principles—brings us a lot of good, including in relations with the state and society.”
Source: Orthodox Christianity
