Estonia approves bill requiring Estonian Church to sever ties with Russia
Kuremäe Monastery in Estonia. Photo: ERR
The Estonian government has approved a bill amending the Law on Churches and Congregations, which requires religious organizations to revise their statutes and completely sever ties with the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC). According to Estonia’s Minister of the Interior, Lauri Läänemets, the bill has been submitted to the Riigikogu (Parliament), ERR reports.
As stated in the explanatory note to the bill, the law prohibits guidance from any person or organization with significant influence and located in a foreign country if it poses a threat to the security, constitutional order, or public order of the Estonian state, supports military aggression, or incites war, terrorist acts, or any other unlawful use of armed force or violence.
Once the amendments take effect, religious organizations will have two months to bring their statutes, board composition, and activities in line with the updated legislation.
As previously reported by UOJ, the Estonian Orthodox Church responded to the authorities' demands by changing its name.
Additionally, believers of the Estonian Orthodox Church have submitted a petition opposing the anti-church law.
Read also
The TCC abducted a priest of the Tulchyn Diocese of the UOC
The whereabouts of the archpriest of the UOC detained by the TCC are currently unknown.
In Odessa, the pagan holiday of Kupala was celebrated on the seashore
An ethno-festival 'Kupala Night' was held on the inclusive beach in Odessa.
Zelensky: I am not Prince Volodymyr, and Nawrocki is not a king
Zelensky attempted a play on the Polish president’s name by alluding to a “king,” although the name Karol derives from the Germanic Karl rather than from the word “king.”
A march was held in Macedonia in defense of the family and the Christian upbringing of children
In the city of Bitola, thousands of believers took part in a march to defend the right of young people to live according to the norms of the Orthodox faith.
Lavra strike sparked my fury, we will bring war back to “Rashka” – Zelensky
The Ukrainian president said the Russian strike on the Dormition Cathedral of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra made him furious and promised to “bring the war back” to Russian territory.
UGCC head: Ukraine and Poland are divided not by UPA struggle but by myths
Sviatoslav Shevchuk called for a return to the papal formula of reconciliation "we forgive and ask for forgiveness" and urged not to leave the topic of Polish-Ukrainian dialogue in the hands of politicians.