The Estonian Orthodox Christian Church protested against the publication of the KaPo yearbook

The Estonian Orthodox Christian Church (EOCC) has issued an official statement expressing deep concern over the organization’s mention in the Security Police Department’s (KAPO) yearbook for 2025-2026. The Church believes that the inclusion of the organization in the section on the protection of the constitutional order is a premature move aimed at creating a biased public opinion at a time when the legal status of the relevant legislative amendments has not yet been determined by the State Court.

According to the official website of EPHC, it is of particular concern that the mentioning of the Church as a threat to order takes place against the background of an unfinished trial. Representatives of the EHCC emphasize that the amendments to the Law on Churches and Parishes adopted by the Riigikogu have not been signed by the President and are currently being checked for compliance with the Constitution. In this regard, the church hierarchs regard the actions of the CaPo as an attempt to put pressure on the public’s perception of the legal issue.

The official appeal also refutes the information that the EPCC’s activities are coordinated from Moscow. The church insists on its administrative independence and states that the allegations of leadership by the structures of the Moscow Patriarchate do not correspond to reality. Currently, according to canonical norms, the authority to govern the Church in Estonia has been delegated to vicar bishops acting on the basis of powers of attorney.

In addition, the EPCC expressed dissatisfaction with the lack of direct dialog with state structures, including the Ministry of the Interior and the security police. The statement notes that often the Church leadership learns about decisions taken against clergy from the media before official sources. The representatives of the Church reminded that the EPC repeatedly condemned the war in Ukraine and continues to pray for peace, calling on the authorities to open and constructive interaction to ensure the stability of Estonian society.

We shall remind you that earlier we reported that in its annual report, the Estonian Intelligence Agency called the Estonian Orthodox Christian Church a «threat to national security».