Estonia: New law may ban Moscow-led Estonian Orthodox Church

Estonia’s Ministry of Interior expects the Estonian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate (MPEÕK) to leave the jurisdiction of the Russian Orthodox Church before summer 2025, ERR reports. Earlier, the ministry submitted a draft legislative amendment to the Estonian parliament, the Riigikogu, which would ban religious associations directed by countries that threaten Estonia’s public order,…

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Estonia: State tells Orthodox church to sever all ties with Moscow

Estonia’s Ministry of Interior has instructed the Estonian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate (MPEÕK) to sever all ties with the Russian Orthodox Church (RPTs), ERR reports. In a letter to MPEÕK’s Bishop Daniel (Daniel Lepisk), the ministry’s secretary general, Tarmo Miilits, noted that MPEÕK’s updated statute failed to meet the requirement. Earlier, the Estonian…

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Lithuania: Constantinople Orthodox Christians plan to build own church

The new Lithuanian Exarchate of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople of the Eastern Orthodox Church plans to build its own church, possibly in Vilnius, BNS reports. Justinus Kiviloo, head of the exarchate, stated that he was “categorically against” taking over church buildings from the Russian Orthodox Church. He said that the funds to build the…

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