The Estonian government again demanded from the EOC a complete break with the Russian Orthodox Church

The Estonian government has again demanded that the Estonian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) completely break off relations with the Russian Orthodox Church. The Ministry of Internal Affairs of the republic considers the reforms adopted earlier in the EOC to strengthen its administrative independence from the Russian Orthodox Church to be insufficient. This is reported by the publication ERR.EE.

“The initial general assessment is that the submitted text does not fully meet the clear expectation expressed by the state at earlier meetings that the current Estonian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate will sever all ties with the Russian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate). In your letter you state that you have worked to reduce the administrative influence of the Russian Orthodox Church in the text of the statute. The expectations of the state, based on the Riigikogu’s statement declaring the Moscow Patriarchate an institution supporting Russia’s military aggression, are that this influence will be completely abolished,” – explained Chancellor of the Estonian Ministry of the Interior Miilits.

Recall, earlier in 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 purpose – to help 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 join after the break with the Russian Orthodox Church.