EAOC Proposes Vicarate Status for EOCC in Exchange for Breaking Ties with Moscow
The Estonian Apostolic Orthodox Church (EAOC), under the jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, has issued a statement amid discussions on legislative changes concerning religious organizations in Estonia. The document includes a call for «peace, love, and cooperation» between the state, clergy, and parishes of both the EAOC and the EOCC. The EAOC also expressed support for the proposed legal amendments that would allow the closure of religious organizations deemed a threat to national security by the authorities. This was reported by the Postimees website.
“The amendment does not require a change of faith or liturgical language. Its main goal is to prevent the influence of hostile states or extremist groups through religious institutions,” the EAOC stated.
Within this context, Metropolitan Stephanos of the EAOC proposed that the EOCC sever ties with the Moscow Patriarchate and enter into the jurisdiction of Constantinople as a vicarate. This status would entail partial autonomy, with the senior bishop reporting to the metropolitan of the EAOC.
The statement also refers to the pre-WWII historical precedent, when the Orthodox Church in Estonia was canonically part of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
It is worth noting that on April 9, 2025, changes were made to the law on churches and parishes in Estonia, which directly affect the Estonian Orthodox Christian Church (EOC) and the Pühtitsa Monastery. These changes have raised concerns among church representatives, who believe that they restrict their religious rights. In its press release, the EOC stated that, despite complying with the laws of Estonia, these changes are directly aimed at the church. «We have always been a law-abiding Church, but these changes violate our rights to freedom of religion,» said a church representative.
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