“The Church in Estonia under the jurisdiction of the Moscow Patriarchate cannot assume the name ‘Orthodox Church of Estonia,’ as this title rightfully belongs to the Church under the Ecumenical Patriarchate,” declared Metropolitan Stefan of Tallinn and All Estonia in a recent written statement.
According to Estonian media, Metropolitan Stefan clarified the longstanding position of the Orthodox Church of Estonia regarding its autonomy from the Moscow Patriarchate. “The Estonian Orthodox Church received its Tomos of Autonomy from the Ecumenical Patriarchate in 1923. However, in 1945, the Moscow Patriarchate illegally dissolved the Orthodox Church of Estonia and initiated anti-canonical activities in the country,” he explained.
Metropolitan Stefan further noted that the Orthodox Church of Estonia, after enduring years of exile during the Soviet occupation, resumed its operations within the Republic of Estonia in 1993. “In 1996, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew restored the 1923 Tomos. Historically and canonically, the Estonian Apostolic Orthodox Church, which is also referred to as the ‘Estonian Orthodox Church’ in English, French, and Greek, retains its rightful name based on this continuity,” he added.
The Metropolitan provided historical context, recalling that in 1590, when Ecumenical Patriarch Jeremiah II granted autocephaly to the Church of Moscow, he deliberately chose not to include the Baltic countries under Moscow’s jurisdiction. “Moscow declined this extension, stating there were no Russian Orthodox believers in the Baltic states at the time,” Stefan stated.
He also highlighted that in 1710, Tsar Peter I unsuccessfully petitioned Constantinople to extend Russian Orthodox jurisdiction over Estonia and Livonia, a request that was denied by Patriarch Athanasius V. Similarly, in 1978, when Patriarch Alexios II of Moscow made a similar request, Ecumenical Patriarch Demetrios I refused, reaffirming that Estonian Orthodox believers worldwide fall under the Ecumenical Patriarchate’s jurisdiction. However, the Ecumenical Patriarchate did allow Moscow to provide spiritual support to Orthodox believers in occupied Estonia, without any further jurisdictional rights.
Metropolitan Stefan revealed that he has formally approached the Estonian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate to restore canonical order by establishing a Russian vicarate within the Estonian Autonomous Orthodox Church. “As of today, the Estonian Autonomous Orthodox Church has not received any response from the Church of the Moscow Patriarchate,” he said.
Finally, it is noted that on Tuesday, August 20, 2024, the Synod of the Estonian Church approved a new version of its statute, affirming its independence in administrative, economic, educational, and political affairs.
