The leaders of the Estonian Christian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate — Ed.) are now trying at all costs to demonstrate the “independence” of their church, which they claim is linked to the Russian Orthodox Church only canonically. In reality, however, the relationship involves administrative subordination.
This is stated in an article by University of Tartu Professor Jüri Saar, published by Postimees.
“The leaders of the church, which now bears a new name, the Estonian Christian Orthodox Church (ECOC), are currently trying at all costs to demonstrate that it is an independent church operating in Estonia and that it is linked to the Russian Orthodox Church only canonically.
“The term ‘canonical’ is interpreted as relating exclusively to religious affiliation. However, according to the canons of the Orthodox Church, its structure and the statutes of the ECOC, this church’s relationship is not only religious but also administrative,” the author argues.
According to Saar, the recent amendment to the Churches and Congregations Act is specifically aimed at severing this administrative link in order to prevent a foreign state from influencing or directing the activities of a religious association operating in Estonia and, consequently, its parishioners.
The professor stresses that everyone without exception must comply with Estonian law.
“No one should have the slightest doubt that the laws of our state apply in Estonia, and that all other legal acts are valid only insofar as they do not conflict with Estonian law,” the scholar states.
Earlier, Patriarch Kirill Gundyayev of the Russian Orthodox Church claimed that a campaign against the Russian Orthodox Church was allegedly continuing in several countries, including Estonia.
Although the Russian Orthodox Church regards Estonia in its documents as part of its canonical territory, this is not the case from the standpoint of Orthodox canon law, according to church historian Priit Rohtmets and Orthodox canon law expert David Heith-Stade.
As University of Tartu Associate Professor Priit Rohtmets said in an interview with LF, the Russian Orthodox Church will have to abandon its imperial identity.
