Estonian Orthodox Church Battles Government Over Name Change, Alleges Religious Freedom Violation

orthodox.ee and OCP News Service – 15/02/2025

Tallinn- Estonia: The Estonian Orthodox Church (under the Moscow Patriarchate) is locked in a legal battle with the Estonian government over its name. The church has been under pressure to distance itself from Moscow, leading to two attempted name changes, both of which have been rejected by the Tartu County Court’s registration department. The church alleges unequal treatment and a violation of religious freedom.

The dispute began after the government signaled its desire for the church to sever ties with the Moscow Patriarchate. In response, the church initially changed its name from “Estonian Orthodox Church-Moscow Patriarchate” to “Estonian Orthodox Church.” However, this name was rejected because it is already used in other languages by the Estonian Apostolic Orthodox Church (under the Ecumenical Patriarchate).

Undeterred, the church then adopted the name “Estonian Christian Orthodox Church” on January 10th. This second attempt also failed, with the registration department claiming the name was misleading, suggesting it encompassed all Orthodox Christians in Estonia.

The church vehemently disagrees with this assessment. They argue that numerous other religious organizations in Estonia use similar naming conventions (e.g., “Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church”), and that their proposed name clearly identifies them as an Orthodox Christian church operating in Estonia. Bishop Daniel of Tartu, vicar to Metropolitan Evgeny (who was recently expelled from Estonia), stated, “The Registry Department’s refusal…raises questions about equal treatment, considering that several religious organizations with similar names are officially registered in Estonia.” ¹ He further emphasized that the new name correctly identifies the church’s activities, and the refusal to register it represents “a clear manifestation of the restriction of religious freedom.”

The church has now filed a legal challenge against this second rejection. They argue that the government’s actions are inconsistent and discriminatory, and that the refusal violates their constitutional right to religious freedom. They point to examples like the Estonian Charismatic Episcopal Church and others to demonstrate the common practice of similar naming conventions.

This name change dispute is playing out against a backdrop of wider concerns raised by the Estonian Orthodox Church and the Pühtitsa Monastery, who have repeatedly protested what they perceive as attempts by the state to effectively ban them. They believe the government’s pressure on the name change is part of a larger effort to suppress their activities. The legal battle over the church’s name is thus not just a bureaucratic issue, but a key test of religious freedom in Estonia.

Source:

OCP News Service and orthodox.ee