EOCC Expresses Condolences to Ukraine After the Tragedy in Sumy

On April 15, 2025, the Estonian Orthodox Christian Church expressed its deepest condolences to the people of Ukraine in connection with the tragedy that occurred on Palm Sunday. Following a missile strike by Russian forces on the city of Sumy, 34 people were killed, and more than 100 were injured. The Church prays for the repose of the souls of the innocent victims and extends condolences to the families of the deceased. This press release was published on the official website of the EOCC.

Bishop Daniil addressed Metropolitan Evlogiy of Sumy with words of support, expressing condolences for the loss of peaceful civilians.

Despite this, some members of the public continue to link the tragedy to the EOCC, accusing the Church of silence and even complicity due to its affiliation with the Moscow Patriarchate. At the same time, the leadership of the autonomous EOCC has repeatedly stated its categorical disagreement with the position of the Patriarch and strongly condemns the war.

The Church emphasizes that the concept of canonical territory pertains exclusively to church matters and does not affect the adherence to the laws of Estonia.

It is worth noting that the hierarch of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Metropolitan Evlogiy of Sumy and Okhtyrka, criticized the missile attack on Sumy that took place on April 13, 2025, in which over thirty residents of the city were killed. The archbishop, during his sermon, called the event «a crime of Russian godless people.»