Estonian bishop calls on authorities for dialogue, condemns anti-church law

Bishop Daniil of Tartu (EOCC). Photo: gorthodox

On October 3, 2025, Bishop Daniil of Tartu, hierarch of the Estonian Orthodox Christian Church (EOCC), issued a public statement urging the Estonian authorities to abandon confrontation with the Church and to establish constructive dialogue. Global Orthodox reported on the statement.

In his address, the hierarch condemned the renewed adoption of the Law on Churches and Religious Communities, which, in his words, “threatens internal peace in society” and “casts doubt on freedom of religion.” The bishop emphasized that the document was approved by Parliament without the participation of EOCC representatives, even though the Church was at the center of the parliamentary debates.

“Our Church was mentioned in parliamentary discussions, but no one ever met with us. We proposed dialogue, yet the state chose to act unilaterally,” – said Bishop Daniil, adding that the EOCC “operates within the law and poses no threat to the state.”

The law, adopted by the Riigikogu on September 16, obliges religious organizations to amend their statutes if they are subordinate to foreign structures deemed a potential threat to national security. The authorities have not concealed that this measure is aimed primarily at the Estonian Orthodox Christian Church, which maintains canonical unity with the Moscow Patriarchate.

As a reminder, on October 6, President of Estonia Alar Karis filed an appeal with the State Court, requesting that these amendments be declared unconstitutional.

Karis stressed that the existing legislation already provides the state with all necessary instruments for oversight of religious organizations, and that the new provisions contradict the Constitution by restricting freedom of religion and association.

“If the authorities begin interfering in doctrine and rituals, the authority of foreign religious leaders among their followers may actually increase,” – the president stated.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that the Riigikogu once again refused to revise the Law on Churches that had been rejected by the president.

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