The website of the Assumption Pyukhtitsky Stavropol Convent contains the text of an open letter from Abbess Abbess Filareta (Kalacheva) and the sisters of the monastery to the Parliament of the Republic of Estonia in connection with plans to force the monastery to change jurisdiction or liquidate the monastery through amendments to the Law on Churches and Parishes. The letter reads:
"Dear Ministers, Dear Speaker of Parliament, dear Members of Parliament!
We are contacting you after reading the draft law on amendments to the Law on Churches and Parishes of the ER.
We understand the purpose of the bill — to force the EPC MP to change jurisdiction and come under the protection of Constantinople. And our repeated explanations that the monastery cannot initiate and renounce jurisdiction on its own went unheard.
The legal side of the document is handled by lawyers. We, simple monks, have never lied to those in power, and now we are telling you and the society the same thing — we are honest in our position both before God and before people.
In the 90s, the monastery completely renounced all property, uncompromisingly and without claims gave everything to the state for the sake of a spiritual connection with the Mother Church. We always comply with the terms of the contract concluded at that time.
No doubt you understand perfectly well that by approving amendments to the Law, you are outlawing the monastery, giving you only two options to choose from: either a change of jurisdiction or forced liquidation — you understand perfectly well that by your actions you are actually closing the monastery. Do you really want to go down in history as parliamentarians who forcibly ended the existence of the famous Estonian Orthodox Women's monastery for over a hundred years?
One cannot but be surprised by the position of the state, which places responsibility for the current situation on the monastic nuns, making us responsible for the decisions that politicians make. We have left the world, we are far from political problems, we live outside politics, serving God with prayer and work, and we are literally dragged into politics and accused of unwillingness to engage in dialogue.
We would like to recall the story of the long-suffering Job from the Old Testament, who lived righteously before God, and the Lord loved him, but the enemy of the human race, envious, began to say that Job was righteous only because God loved him and gave him everything. If he loses everything, he will blaspheme God. In response, the Lord gave the devil the power to do whatever he wanted with Job, with one condition — not to touch his soul. The soul belongs only to God. Think about it.…
The initiators of the bill force us to commit a canonical crime, arguing that they are allegedly trying to protect the monastery from problems. Let's answer in the words of the ancient sage Socrates: "Plato is my friend, but the TRUTH is more precious."
We, the nuns, humbly respond to all the lies about our Holy and beloved monastery.: GOD is your JUDGE!..
With respect,
Abbess Filareta and her sisters"