Estonia's Ministry of the Interior Continues to Demand Statute Changes from the Estonian Orthodox Church

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The Estonian Ministry of the Interior (MVD) will finalize its position regarding the Estonian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate (EOC MP) by the end of September. This decision will follow the review of EOC's proposed amendments to its statute aimed at severing ties with the Russian Orthodox Church. This information comes from the Estonian Orthodox Church's website, citing the Ministry's press service.

On Tuesday, July 30, a meeting took place involving Raivo Kütt, a representative of the Estonian Ministry of the Interior, Bishop Daniel of Tartu, a vicar of the Tallinn Diocese of the Estonian Orthodox Church, and a lawyer representing the interests of the Orthodox Church and the Pühtitsa Monastery. During the discussions, the Ministry's representative conveyed the Estonian government's expectation of "full canonical and legal separation of the EOC MP from the Moscow Patriarchate." He assured that the authorities "do not intend to close churches or obstruct worship services."

The EOC MP outlined its vision for the separation process in two stages. The first stage involves amending the current statute, while the second stage includes consultations with the Estonian Apostolic Orthodox Church to explore unification of all Estonian Orthodox believers under a single church in the future. The status of the Pühtitsa Monastery, which is directly subordinate to Patriarch Kirill and not part of the Estonian Orthodox Church, will be considered separately.

Previously, the Estonian Parliament declared the Russian Orthodox Church an "institution of aggression justification." Minister Laaneots proposed designating the Moscow Patriarchate as a terrorist organization to ultimately ban its activities in Estonia. The Ministry also suggested reconsidering the stavropegial status of the Pühtitsa Monastery to eliminate the potential for spiritual influence by Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and all Rus'.

In response to the Parliament's declaration, the Estonian Orthodox Church stated its intention to maintain canonical ties with the Russian Orthodox Church due to historical connections. Vladimir Legoyda, head of the Moscow Patriarchate's Synodal Department for Church-Society Relations, remarked that the Estonian Ministry of the Interior aims to destroy the Estonian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate and push believers under the jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople.

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