Patriarch Kirill declared that the Churches in Estonia and Moldova remain faithful to the Moscow Patriarchate

Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia said that the Estonian Orthodox Christian Church (EOCOC) and the Orthodox Church of Moldova (OCM) continue to remain in canonical unity with the Moscow Patriarchate. According to the head of the ROC, this is happening despite significant pressure from the state authorities and the adoption of discriminatory legislative acts.

According to RIA Novosti, Patriarch Kirill noted the increased state pressure on the structures of the Church in the Baltics and Moldova. In particular, he emphasized that the threat to eliminate the presence of the Russian Orthodox Church in Estonia remains a pressing problem at the moment. According to his statement, such actions of the authorities are often enshrined through the adoption of special normative acts.

The Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church emphasized that despite external circumstances, the Estonian Orthodox Church and the Orthodox Church of Moldova «remain faithful to the canonical order». Both religious organizations remain under the jurisdiction of the Moscow Patriarchate, while retaining their rights to autonomy. The patriarch also added that maintaining this connection is «hard work» in the current political climate.

As a reminder, the international non-governmental organization Justice for All International has sent an official appeal to the UN Human Rights Council, stating that the Estonian legislative and executive authorities continue to repress the Estonian Orthodox Church (EOC).