Support for the separation of the Estonian Orthodox Christian Church from ROC in Estonia

According to a recent sociological survey commissioned by the Government Office of Estonia, the number of citizens supporting the idea of separating the Estonian Orthodox Christian Church from the Moscow Patriarchate is decreasing. The survey indicates that support for this idea has declined following a significant drop in public backing due to the political situation in Ukraine. The results were published on the website of the Government Office and reflect fresh data from sociologists at Turu-uuringute AS, as reported by Postimees.

In 2024, about 60% of Estonian residents supported separating the church due to the political stance of the Moscow Patriarchate on the war in Ukraine. Today, that number has fallen to 55%.

Public opinion has also shifted among those who do not support the separation of the church over the Moscow hierarchy’s position. The proportion of such respondents increased by three percentage points over the past three months — from 27% to 30%.

As a reminder, on April 9, 2025, changes to the law regarding churches and parishes were passed in Estonia, directly affecting the Estonian Orthodox Christian Church and the Pühtitsa Monastery. These changes have raised concerns among church representatives, who believe they restrict their religious rights.