Erik Varden

Erik Varden, born in Sarpsborg, Norway, on 13 May 1974, is a Catholic bishop and Cistercian monk. Raised in a non-practising Protestant family, Varden’s youth was marked by an intense spiritual quest. During his adolescence, following a mystical experience linked to listening to Mahler’s Symphony No. 2, he had a revelation that led him to discover God. This prompted him, at the age of 15, to embark on a profound reflection on faith. At Cambridge, where he studied theology, he took a further step towards his conversion, becoming a Catholic in 1993 after receiving the sacraments of Christian initiation.

Varden obtained a PhD in theology in 2000, focusing on the thought of Pierre de Bérulle, and subsequently entered the Cistercian Order, taking temporary vows in 2004 and solemn vows in 2007. During his time living in the Cistercian monastery, Varden also deepened his passion for sacred music and Gregorian chant, as well as teaching monastic theology. In 2009, he obtained a licentiate in Eastern Ecclesiastical Sciences in Rome, and in 2010 he was ordained a deacon, whilst in 2011 he was ordained a priest.

In 2015, Varden was elected abbot of the Cistercian monastery of Norge, a role he held until 2019. On 1 October 2019, he was appointed Prelate of Trondheim by Pope Francis, becoming a leading figure in the Catholic Church in Norway. His episcopal ordination on 3 October 2020 was historic, as he was the first Catholic bishop to be ordained in Trondheim’s Lutheran cathedral, a symbolic gesture of openness to ecumenical dialogue.

Since 2023, he has also been Apostolic Administrator of Tromsø, and since 2024 he has presided over the Scandinavian Bishops’ Conference. His monastic experience and his commitment to the Catholic Church have made him an important spiritual figure in the region, dedicated to ongoing ecumenical dialogue and the promotion of Catholic spirituality.