Moscow, April 11, 2025
Photo: narvanews.com
The Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church issued a statement yesterday condemning the recently adopted bill that effectively bans the Estonian Orthodox Christian Church. The legislation, passed in its third reading by Estonia’s Parliament on April 9, requires the Church and Pükhtitsa Monastery to sever their canonical ties with the Russian Church, affecting an estimated 250,000 Estonian citizens.
In its statement, the Synod rejects claims that the Church poses a security threat to Estonia, noting that it doesn’t participate in political activities. The Synod expresses particular concern for Pükhtitsa, which it describes as “a shrine of world Orthodoxy,” and calls on the international community to condemn Estonia’s religious discrimination and violation of religious freedom principles.
The Synodal statement reads:
On April 9, 2025, the Estonian Parliament adopted in its third reading Bill No. 2-5/25-00033 “On Amendments to the Law of the Republic of Estonia ‘On Churches and Parishes,’” which effectively aims to ban the activities of the Estonian Orthodox Christian Church—a self-governing Church within the Moscow Patriarchate.
The new law forces believers to break their canonical connection with the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia and the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church. This decision contradicts the repeatedly expressed will of the clergy, monastics, and laity of the Estonian Orthodox Christian Church who remain faithful to their Church hierarchy. It discriminates against 250,000 believing citizens of Estonia, depriving them of freedom of religion.
As justification for the necessity of adopting this law, a false claim was made that the canonical connection of Orthodox believers in Estonia with the Moscow Patriarchate creates a threat to the security of the Estonian state and to the constitutional and social order in the country. This completely ignores the fact that the Estonian Orthodox Christian Church does not participate in political life or interstate relations. To date, not a single instance has been recorded of its structures or believers creating any threats to state or public security.
However, this did not stop Estonian political forces that have taken a course toward fighting Russian Orthodoxy, which has for centuries been part of the cultural heritage of the Estonian people. One of the main targets of persecution has been the Pükhtitsa Monastery—a shrine of world Orthodoxy and a place of pilgrimage for believers from different countries.
The actions of the Estonian authorities today reproduce methods that were used in the fight against the Church during the times of atheistic struggle against God.
The Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church declares its full support for His Eminence Metropolitan Evgeny of Tallinn and All Estonia, the archpastors, clergy, and faithful children of the Estonian Orthodox Christian Church under the conditions of increasing oppression against it, calling on them to maintain fidelity to the sacred canons. Orthodoxy was brought to Estonia by Russian missionaries 1,000 years ago. Its history is rich with vivid examples of courageous standing in faith, from the 
Hieromartyr Isidore and 72 Others at Yuriev, EstoniaThe priest Isidore bravely stood forth in defense of Orthodoxy, preferring to accept a martyr’s crown rather than submit to the Catholics.
“>Holy Martyr Isidore of Yuriev and those who suffered with him—to the martyric feat of St. Platon, Bishop of Revel, and other new martyrs of the Estonian land. We believe that through their prayerful intercession, the Estonian Orthodox Christian Church will worthily endure the trials that have befallen it.
We call on the international community to condemn the facts of violence against the conscience of the Orthodox and the illegal interference of the Estonian authorities in the internal affairs of the Estonian Orthodox Christian Church, which clearly ignores the internationally accepted principles of religious freedom.
For more background on this issue, Parliament adopts law on banning Estonian Orthodox Christian ChurchThe Riigikogu, Estonian Parliament, has adopted the law aimed at banning the Estonian Orthodox Christian Church.
“>see yesterday’s news on the parliamentary decision.
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Source: Orthodox Christianity