Tartu County, Estonia, February 14, 2025
St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Tallinn. Photo: visitestonia.com
The Estonian Orthodox Church has changed its name twice in the last several months in response to pressure from the government, which is trying to force it to separate itself from the Moscow Patriarchate.
The Estonian Church is an autonomous body within the Patriarchate, meaning that it is self-governed, centered in Tallinn. In August, the Church Council changed the name from “Estonian Orthodox Church-Moscow Patriarchate” to simply “Estonian Orthodox Church,” but the Tartu County Court’s registration department refused to accept this name, as it is already used Constantinople’s Estonian Apostolic Orthodox Church when presenting itself in other languages.
Thus, on January 10, the Council adopted the name “Estonian Christian Orthodox Church.”
However, the registration department has again refused to register the Church’s new name, claiming it creates the misleading impression the Church encompasses all Orthodox Christians in Estonia. At the same time, the courts allow Constantinople’s Church, and other religious organizations, to use analogous names.
“We have decided to challenge this [refusal] in court as we consider it important to defend our rights important,” the Estonian Church press service quotes His Grace Bishop Daniel of Tartu, vicar to His Eminence Metropolitan Evgeny of Tallinn, who was expelled from the country last year on unsubstantiated claims that he posed a security threat.
“The Registry Department’s refusal to register the name ‘Estonian Christian Orthodox Church’ raises questions about equal treatment, considering that several religious organizations with similar names are officially registered in Estonia,” states the Church report.
Examples include the Estonian Charismatic Episcopal Church, Estonian Charismatic Fellowship Church, Estonian Full Gospel Church, Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church, New Apostolic Church in Estonia, and the Estonian Apostolic Orthodox Church.
“These examples confirm that the use of similar names is common and accepted practice among Estonian religious organizations. Therefore, it’s incomprehensible why an exception has been made in our Church’s case and name registration has been refused,” said Bp. Daniel.
The new name correctly identifies the purpose and scope of the Church’s activities, Bp. Daniel said, and thus the refusal to legally to register it is “a clear manifestation of the restriction of religious freedom.”
Both the Estonian Church and Pükhtitsa Monastery have repeatedly warned and protested that the state is attempting to wholly ban them.
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