Orthodox congregation disputes Reykjavík’s withdrawal of church plot

The Orthodox congregation in Iceland says its church project at Mýrargata 21–23 is ready to proceed, with funding in place and only a building permit outstanding. In a statement reported by mbl.is, the congregation said it regretted Reykjavík City Council’s decision to revoke its land allocation.

The council voted this week to withdraw the congregation’s allocation, made in 2008, as well as a plot allocated to the Muslim Association of Iceland. It cited the long time since the allocations and the fact that construction had not begun.

The Orthodox congregation said the decision came as a surprise. It said it had maintained regular contact with the city administration and had spent years preparing designs and engineering plans for the church. Reykjavík approved the final drawings on September 7, and the application is now being processed, according to the statement.

The congregation attributed earlier delays to the Covid-19 pandemic, changes to the design made in response to nearby residents’ requests, and several amendments to the area’s zoning plan by the city since 2008. It said the plot “has never been abandoned” and that members pray there every Sunday in a small temporary wooden chapel dedicated to St Nicholas. The plot was also blessed by senior church clergy in the presence of former Icelandic president Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson, the statement said.

The city had asked the congregation for a timeline for the next phase. The congregation replied that preparatory work was complete and that only a building permit was needed. It said it had fulfilled its obligations and called on authorities to handle the matter carefully, arguing that less severe options were available. It also asked to discuss the project with the authorities.