The statement explains that Estonia’s new law violates religious freedom by targeting the Church and monastery solely due to their canonical ties with the Russian Church, despite their compliance with Estonian law and opposition to the war in Ukraine.
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.
According to 2016-2021 census data, Orthodoxy is the fasting growing denomination, with the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia coming in as the fastest growing among the Orthodox jurisdictions.
A new photo album published by St. Tikhon’s Monastery Press stunning views of dozens of Orthodox monasteries from throughout America and Canada.
The perpetrators managed to break down the church’s doors and barricade themselves inside. Armed with batons and tear gas, they beat several people, mostly women and elderly parishioners.