ESTONIA’s Parliament has adopted a revised Churches and Congregations Act, in a fresh legislative effort to cut ties between the Estonian Orthodox Church and the Moscow Patriarchate.
The amended law was adopted last week; 68 members of parliament voted in favour and 17 against. The main provision, which requires the Estonian Christian Orthodox Church (EKOK) to terminate canonical relations and subordination to the Russian Orthodox Church, has not changed.
EKOK has been given six months to do so, as opposed to the two months specified in the original text of the law, which was adopted in April. But the President, Alar Karis, refused to promulgate it, deeming it unconstitutional (News, 9 May).
The leadership of EKOK is adamant that the provisions of the law represent a direct interference in the church’s life and operations and still contradict the constitution.
The motives for introducing the law were presented as national-security concerns, with Estonia’s parliament stating that “religious organisations operating in Estonia cannot be used for spreading hostile influence, the dissemination of extremist ideologies, or incitement to violence.”
In an interview with Estonia’s public broadcaster, ERR, the Primate of the Estonian Apostolic Orthodox Church (EAOC), Metropolitan Stephanos, expressed support for the legislation, justifying it by the current national-security environment that had stemmed from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
“We cannot allow a situation where national security is threatened through or under the cover of a religious organisation,” he said.
The Metropolitan expressed his concerns regarding the possible legal uncertainties if EKOK were to maintain its relationship with Russia. “It is clear that there will be both societal and legal consequences,” he said.
“If the Estonian Christian Orthodox Church does not cut ties with the Moscow Patriarchate, then they will no longer be recognised or accepted as a religious organisation by the state, and according to the law, that is exactly what would happen.”
Metropolitan Stephanos conveyed his frustration to EKOK about its hesitance in working together. He has discussed with the Ecumenical Patriarch the idea of a separate vicariate offered to the EKOK in a way that would protect its “canonical communion and ecclesiastical integrity” (News, 28 March).
“After I made the vicariate proposal, anyone from their side could have come to speak with us to find out what the proposal actually entails. They could have asked for clarification. But no one has come forward or shown any interest,” the Metropolitan said.