Phanar hierarch proposes to create “Russian vicariate” instead of EOC

Metropolitan Stefan. Photo: rus.err.ee

The head of the Estonian Apostolic Orthodox Church (EAOC) under the Constantinople Patriarchate, Metropolitan Stefan, stated that the Estonian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate (EOC-MP) cannot change its name to the Estonian Orthodox Church, as this name belongs to the Estonian Orthodox Church under the jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, and the EAOC itself uses this name in other languages.

He explained that "the Estonian Apostolic Orthodox Church received the Tomos, which serves as the basis for its activities, from the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople in 1923. In 1945, the Moscow Patriarchate dissolved the Estonian Orthodox Church and began canonically illegal activities in Estonia".

"The Estonian Apostolic Orthodox Church, after preserving its continuity in exile during the period of occupation, resumed its activities in the territory of the Republic of Estonia in 1993, and in 1996, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew restored the 1923 Tomos," the hierarch further stated.

He noted that "in English, French, and Greek, the Estonian Apostolic Orthodox Church uses the name 'Estonian Orthodox Church' based on historical continuity".

Metropolitan Stefan reminded that when the Patriarch of Constantinople, Jeremiah II, granted autocephaly to the Moscow Church in 1590, Constantinople intended to give the Moscow Church jurisdiction over the Baltic countries, but Moscow refused on the grounds that there were no Russian Orthodox in the Baltic countries.

"In 1710, Tsar Peter I requested from Constantinople the right to extend the jurisdiction of the Russian Orthodox Church over Estland and Livland, but the then Patriarch Athanasius V refused, as the Baltic countries were canonically and historically under the jurisdiction of Constantinople," Stefan continued.

"In 1978, the then Patriarch of Moscow, Alexy II, made the same request, but the then Ecumenical Patriarch Demetrios I again refused, emphasizing that Estonian Orthodox worldwide fall under the jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. However, the Ecumenical Patriarch agreed that the Moscow Orthodox Church could provide spiritual support to Orthodox believers in occupied Estonia, but no more than that," explained the EAOC Metropolitan.

Stefan noted that he reached out to the Estonian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate with a fraternal proposal to restore canonical legitimacy and resolve the situation by establishing a Russian vicariate within the Estonian Apostolic Orthodox Church.

"As of today, the Estonian Apostolic Orthodox Church has not received a response from the Estonian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate," said the Metropolitan.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that the EOC MP made changes to the Church's Statute, removing references to the Moscow Patriarchate.

The EOC approved a new version of the Church's Statute, confirming its administrative, economic, and educational independence, as well as its independence in civil matters.

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