A Lutheran bishop in Estonia has spoken out against the government's proposals to seize the Cathedral of the Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church

Urmas Viilma, Archbishop of the Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church, spoke out against radical proposals to demolish or repurpose the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Tallinn. He emphasized that a cultured society should strive to create and preserve historical heritage, rather than destroy places of worship, even if they have a complicated past.

According to the rus.err.ee portal ( ), the debate surrounding Alexander Nevsky Cathedral has intensified against the backdrop of the Moscow Patriarchate’s aggressive policies and Russia’s influence. However, the archbishop points out that the cathedral remains an active place of worship for thousands of people, and its history demonstrates that the significance of symbols can change over time. As an example, he cites Tallinn Cathedral, which, despite its imperial past, has become an important part of Estonian national culture and spiritual life.

Viilma urges government authorities to direct their energy and resources not toward discussions about demolishing churches, but toward restoring sites of key historical significance to Estonia. In particular, he emphasizes the need to complete the restoration of the Alexander Lutheran Church in Narva and St. Mary’s Church in Tartu. According to the archbishop, it is precisely state support for such symbolic projects that will serve as a fitting response to the challenges of our time and reaffirm Estonia’s status as a country with a rich culture, where state institutions adhere to the principles of preserving—rather than destroying—historical memory.

As a reminder, we previously reported that Estonian Minister of the Interior Igor Taro proposed terminating the lease agreement for Alexander Nevsky Cathedral with the Estonian Orthodox Christian Church ahead of schedule, calling the cathedral a “symbol of Russification.”