Bishop of Estonian Church: Our monasteries and churches may be shut down

Bishop Daniil, Vicar of the Tallinn Diocese of the Estonian Orthodox Church. Photo: Screenshot from Delfi TV

On February 5, 2025, Bishop Daniil, Vicar of the Tallinn Diocese of the Estonian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate (EOC-MP), spoke about the potential fate of churches and monasteries under a new Estonian law that prohibits religious organizations from being affiliated with a foreign governing body. The statement was reported by Delfi.

Bishop Daniil noted that the Estonian Ministry of the Interior has proposed that the EOC-MP merge with the Apostolic Orthodox Church under the Ecumenical Patriarchate, which has expressed willingness to unite to allow the parishes to continue operating.

The Estonian bishop stated: "It has never happened, and it will never happen, that an entire Church must change its canonical jurisdiction because of the opinion of a single individual. Throughout history, there have been instances where leaders of local Churches supported false teachings, but even then, entire Churches did not transfer under a different hierarchy. We do not support Patriarch Kirill's position on the war in Ukraine. We are not obligated to support it. We have our own stance."

Bishop Daniil further emphasized: "We have freedom of religion, freedom of thought, guaranteed by the Constitution. The state is dictating to me that I must merge with the Apostolic Church under the Ecumenical Patriarchate. Is there freedom in this or not? And we have no intention of doing anything wrong, yet we are still being suspected of wrongdoing."

"The principle of collective guilt is not a principle of a lawful state. Passing a law that allows for the closure of a specific religious organization is wrong. We operate in accordance with Estonian laws. We want there to be freedom of religion. The Church must have the right to decide for itself," Bishop Daniil said in his interview.

Earlier, the UOJ reported on the statement by an Estonian monastery abbess, who said that the new law on the Church is a canonical crime.

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