The Patriarchate of Constantinople offered the EOC to create a vicariate in Estonia in order to separate from the Russian Orthodox Church

The Estonian Apostolic Orthodox Church of the Patriarchate of Constantinople announced the beginning of a dialog with the Estonian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) with the aim of helping it to separate from the Russian Orthodox Church. The EAOC proposes to the EOC to create an additional “vicariate of parishes of Russian tradition” within the Patriarchate of Constantinople, which the Estonian Church will be able to enter after the break with the Russian Orthodox Church. The Postimees website reports that.

“This means that the EOC MP will remain an independent church entity, will be able to continue to follow its own church practice, use its own language and calendar, and be fully financially independent. Bishops of the vicariate will mention the name of the EAPC Metropolitan at the Divine Liturgy, while priests and deacons will mention their local bishop. If necessary, the EAPC will appeal to the Estonian Council of Churches with a request to help preserve both Orthodox churches under its auspices,” – the EAOC said in a statement.

Recall, earlier the Holy Synod of the Estonian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) refused to evaluate the statements of Patriarch Kirill, as demanded by the Estonian Interior Ministry. The Estonian Church believes that their previous statement regarding the public activities of the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church is exhaustive, and that the EOC itself is called to spread the word of God, not political narratives.