Court allows Estonian Orthodox Church to change its name

On the eve of the Estonian Parliament’s consideration of a law restricting the activities of the Estonian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate), the republic’s court allowed the MP to change its name. Now the Estonian Orthodox Church will bear the official name “Estonian Christian Orthodox Church”. This is reported by ERR.EE.

It is reported that the EOC MP filed an application to change its charter and name in September 2024, expressing a desire to continue to be called the “Estonian Orthodox Church”. The registration department referred the application to a judge, who recognized the proposed name as misleading, as it unlawfully covers all Orthodox Christians in Estonia.

After that, the EOC MP chose a new name, “Estonian Christian Orthodox Church,” but the registration department recognized it as misleading for the same reasons. No other deficiencies were found in the application.

In turn, on Monday, March 24, the Tartu District Court upheld the complaint filed on behalf of the Estonian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate by sworn lawyers Stephen-Christo Evestus and Arthur Knyazev. According to the court’s ruling, the new name complies with the law and is not misleading as to the purpose, scope or legal form of the church.

“With the new name and charter, our church emphasizes its status as a self-governing church. Over the past year, we have had to face hostile attitudes because of our canonical ties with the Moscow Patriarchate, with which the previous name of our church is associated,” — said Bishop Daniel, vicar of the Diocese of Tallinn of the Episcopal Church of the Moscow Patriarchate, emphasizing that the new name and charter reflect the independence of the church in all aspects.

As reported, the day before, the head of the Estonian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate, Metropolitan Yevgeny of Tallinn, published a message in connection with the possible future ban of the EOC. The First Hierarch called for increased prayers, preserving peace of mind.