The Estonian Orthodox Church has been given an ultimatum: break ties with Russia or face forced dissolution.
Religious associations are now prohibited from being associated with a faith leader based in a foreign country that is deemed to pose a threat to Estonian national security, under amendments to the Churches and Congregations Act.
The Church was known as the Estonian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate until March 2025. Bishops stated it marked self-governance. Patriarch Kirill of Moscow must still sign off on decisions made by the Church’s General Assembly, as per the institution’s statutes.
The Moscow Patriarchate has been supportive of the Kremlin and Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.
Church leader Metropolitan Eugene was forced to leave Estonia in 2024 after security services judged he was a threat to national security, because of alleged support for “Russia’s military actions”. He stated he would continue to work from Moscow.
“The Orthodox clergy here must engage in serious introspection and clearly determine whom they serve: the Triune God or the Kremlin and the Patriarch of Moscow,” Ilmo Au, an adviser at the Interior Ministry, told ERR.
The Church has acknowledged a letter from the government, sent to all religious institutions outlining the law change, stating it will consider how its practices may have to change, as reported by the national broadcaster.
A deadline of 28 December 2026 has been set by Tarmo Miilits, general secretary of the Interior Ministry, to be compliant or institutions will face court action for them to be forcibly dissolved.
The Estonian Supreme Court approved parliament’s new law, after it had been blocked by the head of state.
“In its decision, the Supreme Court provided legal clarity on an issue that matters to many Orthodox Christians – their freedom and dignity, and their right to be independent of church leaders who justify war, aggression, violence, killing and suffering”, Miilits said.
The minister rejected the Kremlin’s assertion that Estonia wanted to ban Orthodoxy, closing its church buildings and monasteries, stating that the amendments “are intended to protect freedom of religion in Estonia”.
There are around 160,000 members of the Estonian Orthodox Church, who are mostly of Russian descent. The Estonian Apostolic Orthodox Church has around 20,000 members of mainly Estonian ethnicity.