Hierarch of Estonia: Church borders often do not align with state borders

Bishop Daniel. Photo: rus.delfi.ee

On January 18, 2025, Bishop Daniel of Tartu discussed the situation surrounding the Estonian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate (EOC MP) and the pressure from authorities, according to Delfi.

During the interview, the journalist reminded the hierarch that representatives of state authorities are pressuring the Church to sever all canonical ties with the Moscow Patriarchate, and the conflict remains unresolved. "What should parishioners do in this situation of uncertainty?" she asked.

"We advise parishioners to remain steadfast in prayer. The canonical borders of Churches often do not align with state borders. This is normal," emphasized the bishop.

He noted that the Church prays for the country and its authorities without violating the established order.

"It is natural for the state to monitor order within the country. If the Church neither violates this order nor intends to, but instead prays 'for our God-protected country, its authorities, and its armed forces,' testifying to its desire for peace in the land, it seems there is no need to fight this," added Bishop Daniel.

"To be fair, it should be noted that amidst the vast number of press publications, there are, though not frequent, attempts to honestly analyze the situation and convey objective information to readers," the bishop remarked.

Nevertheless, the hierarch acknowledged that another approach prevails more often: "Unfortunately, a different approach dominates. At times, this is undoubtedly a deliberate discrediting of our Church, while other times, it feels as though the person, though speaking utter nonsense, does so without malice."

Earlier, it was reported that Estonian authorities seek to ban Churches associated with Russia.

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