Tallinn, September 26, 2025
Photo: orthodox.ee
His Grace Bishop Daniel of Tartu, vicar of the Tallinn Diocese of the Estonian Orthodox Christian Church, has issued a statement criticizing the legislative process surrounding amendments to the Churches and Congregations Act, calling for dialogue instead of confrontation.
Last month, the Riigikogu (Parliament) passed the controversial legislation unchanged for the third time, sending it to President Alar Karis for signature after he had twice returned it to Parliament citing constitutional concerns.
“For almost a year, our question has been discussed and decided without us,” Bp. Daniel writes. “Throughout the entire preparation of the legislative amendments, neither the Ministry of Internal Affairs nor the Riigikogu has once approached our Church.”
The bishop said his Church has offered meetings and expressed willingness to explain its positions and restore constructive dialogue, which he said was unilaterally broken off by the former Interior Minister when the amendments were initiated.
Bp. Daniel participated in one public session of the Legal Affairs Committee, but notes he was not initially invited and had to specifically request permission to attend, while a so-called expert from Constantinople’s Estonian Apostolic Orthodox Church, which supports the banning of the Estonian Orthodox Christian Church, was invited.
The statement also referenced an August discussion at the Opinion Festival organized by the Estonian Apostolic Orthodox Church titled “Challenges of the Orthodox Church,” which included a theologian, a university professor, and an adviser from the Ministry of Internal Affairs’ religious affairs department. Bp. Daniel says his Church was not informed about the event, much less invited to participate, and he only learned of it by chance.
Addressing security concerns raised by proponents of the legislation, the bishop writes:
We share the state’s concern for national security and consider it a very important issue. However, in the case of amending the Churches and Congregations Act, it cannot be said that it would help strengthen security, as they are trying to convince the public. On the contrary—the amendment of the law and the entire course of processing the amendments has created additional tensions and divisions in society.
“Canonical ties with the Moscow Patriarchate do not force us to act against our country and state,” he writes. “On the contrary, we see our contribution to the spiritual service of the residents of Estonia as increasing the cohesion of society and thereby increasing security.”
His Grace notes that while the Church primarily serves Estonia’s Russian-speaking population, “our doors are open to everyone,” with many Estonians in various congregations and spiritual support provided to refugees from Ukraine, many of whom have become members of the congregations.
He also stresses that the Church’s charter includes a provision that its activities in Estonia operate within the framework of Estonian legislation. “Therefore, everything that does not fit within these boundaries is also not acceptable for us in our activities,” Bp. Daniel writes. “The supreme governing body of our Church is the Assembly of the Estonian Orthodox Christian Church, and the portrayal of our Church primarily as a conduit of external influence in Estonia is deliberate manipulation.”
The statement concludes:
We hope that the head of state will remain principled and will not sign the law; we will probably also have to wait for the decision of the Supreme Court. In October, it will be a full year since our Church has been living in uncertainty about its future. We pray that in our difficult time, wisdom and justice will prevail and that dialogue will replace confrontation. May God help us all find the way to mutual understanding!
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