OCP News Service – 23/01/2025

Tallinn- Estonia: The Estonian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate (EOC MP) faces continued pressure from the Estonian government to sever ties with the Moscow Patriarchate. This pressure has manifested in the recent forced name change of the Church.

On January 10, 2025, the EOC MP held its third Council session to address concerns raised by the Tartu County Court’s registration department regarding the Church’s Statute, adopted in August 2024. The court had previously objected to the Church’s original name, “Eesti Õigeusu Kirik” (Estonian Orthodox Church), demanding a change.

The Council, in a compromise solution, agreed to change the name to “Eesti Kristlik Õigeusu Kirik” (Estonian Christian Orthodox Church) while maintaining that Metropolitan Evgeny’s leadership remains legal despite his expulsion from Estonia in February 2025.

Background:

• Estonia has been pressuring the EOC MP to join the Constantinople Patriarchate, which has its own presence in the country.
• The Estonian government expelled Metropolitan Evgeny, the head of the EOC MP, accusing him of wrongdoing related to the war in Ukraine. However, the Church maintains its opposition to the war and denies any wrongdoing by Metropolitan Evgeny.
• Estonian law allows religious organizations to have up to half of their board members as non-residents, supporting the EOC MP’s claim that Metropolitan Evgeny’s leadership remains legal.

The Estonian Church’s situation highlights the ongoing tensions between Estonia and the Moscow Patriarchate. While the Church emphasizes its autonomy and opposition to the war, the Estonian government’s actions continue to strain relations.

Additional Information:

• The Council session also addressed concerns raised by the court regarding the legality of decisions made at a previous meeting due to Metropolitan Evgeny’s residency status.
• The amended Articles of Association and necessary documents were submitted to the Registration Department of Tartu County Court on January 16, 2025.

Estonian Orthodox Church Charts Path to Independence

Source:

OCP News Service and orthodox.ee