(ZENIT News / Tallin, 22.08.2024).- Estonia’s Orthodox Church has taken an historic step by separating itself officially from Moscow’s Patriarchate, marking a new chapter in its religious and administrative independence. In an Assembly held in Tallin, the statutes were approved that consolidate this autonomy in key aspects such as administration, economy and education Moreover, the Church has adopted a new name, doing away with any reference to Moscow and reaffirming its identity as the ”Orthodox Church of Estonia.”
This move arises in a context of growing tension between Estonia and Russia, exacerbated by the Moscow Patriarchate’s support of Russia’s war against Ukraine. The Estonian Government pressured repeatedly for a total separation of the Estonian Orthodox Church from its Russian counterpart, in line with its rejection of the conflict. As a result of these tensions, Metropolitan Eugeni (Reshetnikov), leader of the Estonian Orthodox Church and Russian citizen, felt obliged to leave the country in February, after the Estonian Authorities refused to renew his residence permit. From exile, Eugeni directed the meeting through a video link.
Parallelly, Estonia’s Orthodox Church has initiated conversations with the Estonian Government to explore the possibility of unification with the Apostolic Orthodox Church of Estonia, which is under the jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. Although the Estonian Orthodox Church has addressed this topic in an indirect way, it has expressed the hope that both Orthodox communities in Estonia can overcome their existing differences and reach a reconciliation based on mutual respect. and canonical principles.
In this context, Bishop Daniel (Lepisk), recently consecrated as the principal figure of Estonia’s Orthodox Church, met with representatives of the Ministry of the Interior to discuss measures to reduce the influence of Moscow’s Patriarchate on the local Church. The negotiations with the Apostolic Orthodox Church of Estonia could begin in the Fall, as Daniel pointed out on Estonian television.
In a country where the majority of the population does not ascribe to any religious community, this reconfiguration of the Orthodox Church could have a significant impact on Estonia’s spiritual panorama. According to the 2021 census, only 16% of the population identifies with Orthodox Christianity, whereas the Lutheran Church, historically influential in the region, had the support of 8% of the citizens.
