Estonian hierarch of Phanar: Russian minority turns to us due to high demands of EOСC for sacraments

The head of the Estonian Metropolis of the Patriarchate of Constantinople (Estonian Apostolic Orthodox Church), Metropolitan Stefan, said that the Russian minority in Estonia is under constant pressure from the Russian Orthodox Church, which, in his opinion, is blocking contacts with the Orthodox community of the Patriarchate of Constantinople. At the same time, he called the lack of dialogue between Estonians and Russians “a consequence of communist policy.” This was reported by The Orthodox Times.

“On the borders of Russia with these countries, Russians evicted locals and brought in their own people to create minorities. And this minority is under constant pressure. The Moscow Patriarchate does not allow them to contact us… Unfortunately, they block this with great fanaticism,” said the hierarch of Phanar.

According to the head of the EOC, despite the tension in interchurch relations, representatives of the Russian community still turn to his structure when it comes to performing rites and sacraments: «They come to us because the Russian Church charges large sums for sacraments. We perform them free of charge… We maintain a peaceful approach, we live and walk together in this country, and there is no place for such discrimination.»

Regarding the war in Ukraine, the metropolitan expressed his concern that “Russian President Vladimir Putin and Patriarch Kirill have repeatedly stated that after Ukraine, the Baltic countries will be next.”

We recall that Metropolitan Stefan approved the Estonian parliament’s adoption of amendments to the law aimed at banning the Estonian Orthodox Christian Church (part of the Moscow Patriarchate). The bishop claims that the law effectively banning the EOC is necessary in order to “strengthen national security.” In addition, the Phanar hierarch once again invited the clergy and faithful of the EOC to join the Patriarchate of Constantinople.