"In spite of Jerusalem?": Primate of the Hellenic Church received the delegation of the Estonian Metropolis of the Patriarchate of Constantinople

On May 14, 2025, in Athens, the Primate of the Greek Orthodox Church, His Beatitude Archbishop Ieronymos, received the head of the Estonian Apostolic Orthodox Church (Metropolis of the Patriarchate of Constantinople in Estonia), Metropolitan Stephen of Estonia. It is noteworthy that the meeting took place against the backdrop of the efforts of Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem to support the Estonian Orthodox Christian Church, which is being banned in Estonia, in particular, at the suggestion of local Phanar hierarchs. This is reported by The Orthodox Times.

“The two hierarchs discussed issues of ecclesiastical interest and shared their views on pastoral and theological issues in their Churches,” — the press release briefly states.

We will note that earlier we reported that on March 13, 2025, the Public Relations Department of the Estonian Apostolic Orthodox Church of the Patriarchate of Constantinople published a statement in which it supported the amendments to the Law on Religions and Parishes, which were introduced by the Estonian Parliament, aimed at banning the activities of the Estonian Orthodox Christian Church. The EAOC offered the Estonian Church to form a vicariate within its organization, which would ensure the canonical status of the EOCC after the legislative ban.