©picture alliance / press.media | Shatokhina Natalia
According to the Estonian public broadcaster ERR News, Estonia is fed up with Russian influence on its territory and has issued an ultimatum to the Orthodox Church.
Estonia has given the Estonian Orthodox Church six months to sever ties with the Moscow Patriarchate. If the church fails to do so by December 28, the Minister of the Interior may initiate proceedings to force its dissolution.
The measure follows recent legislative changes that prohibit religious organizations in Estonia from remaining affiliated with a foreign religious leader who poses a risk to national security. According to the ministry, all affected religious communities must now amend their bylaws and governance structures to comply with the new rules. The Estonian Orthodox Church, formerly known as the Estonian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate, is under particular scrutiny. Its leader, Metropolitan Eugene, was forced to leave the country in early 2024 after the security service labeled his activities a threat to national security.
The message from the ministry is clear. According to advisor Ilmo Au, the church must first appoint a new metropolitan and, furthermore, remove all references to Patriarch Kirill from its documents. The 1993 tomos—the founding document that establishes the church’s ties to Moscow—could also pose a legal obstacle.
Church historian Priit Rohtmets expects that the church will amend its statutes, but that a complete break with Moscow will be much more difficult. He points out that the issue will likely lead to new lawsuits over whether ties with the Russian Orthodox Church have truly been severed. Meanwhile, the Estonian government says the church can now act without permission from Moscow. According to the ministry, it no longer needs to seek foreign approval to set its own course.
©picture alliance / press.media | Shatokhina Natalia