Estonian MIA head addresses the faithful of Estonian Orthodox Church

Lauri Läänemets. Photo: Eero Vabamägi

On April 22, 2024, the Minister of Internal Affairs of Estonia, Lauri Läänemets, addressed the communities of the Estonian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate, stating that while the doors of the churches will remain open, believers need to protect themselves from calls to terrorism. His statement was published on the Postimees.ee website.

Lauri Läänemets emphasized that Estonia guarantees freedom of religion. However, he expressed his desire for all Orthodox believers "to have the opportunity to exercise their judgments and freedom of faith in such a way that the words and instructions of the Patriarch of Moscow as the governing body regarding support for aggression do not cast a shadow on them."

The Minister believes that the Orthodox in Estonia should be protected from calls to terrorism and hostile ideologies, and he called on them to find solutions together that "will free members of this congregation from the distorted content of the concept of holy war imposed on them."

He added, "Together with the members of the communities and clergy of the Estonian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate (EOCMP), as well as legal experts and theologians, we are trying to find solutions to the problem at hand that are in balanced accordance with the laws of the Republic of Estonia and Orthodox canons."

Läänemets also assured that the doors of the churches will remain open, and services will continue.

In conclusion, referring to historical church issues, the Minister of Internal Affairs pointed out that, despite disagreements, Orthodox in Estonia lived peacefully as a unified canonical Church until World War II.

He also announced that in the near future, the Vice Chancellor of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Raivo Küüt, will meet with representatives of the communities to discuss the situation.

As reported by the UOJ, officials from the Ministry of Internal Affairs plan to hold meetings with the parishes of the Estonian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate to persuade them to join the Estonian Apostolic Orthodox Church (EAOC), which is subordinate to the Patriarch of Constantinople.

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