In an official action taken on May 6, Estonia’s national assembly endorsed a resolution identifying the Russian Orthodox Church, or the Moscow Patriarchate, as an “entity endorsing the military incursion of the Russian Federation.”
Aligned with Russia’s intensified conflict against Ukraine, the church, under the leadership of Patriarch Kirill, has been implicated in disseminating Russian wartime rhetoric.
Patriarch Kirill, who leads the Moscow Patriarchate, is a known advocate of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Kirill has faced allegations of orchestrating his clergy in Ukraine and other nations to propagate Russian state propaganda.
“Since Russia commenced a full-scale attack on Ukraine in 2022, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow….has lent his explicit endorsement to the belligerent maneuvers of the Russian Federation’s terroristic regime,” declared the statement from the Estonian parliament.
“Heavy usage of the ‘Russian World’ concept by the Moscow Patriarchate leadership and Patriarch Kirill has been noted, aiming to dismantle Russia’s lingering democratic facets, militarize Russian society, and legitimize the combative stance to reclaim regions historically under Russian control, including Ukraine,” the statement added further.
It was emphasized that the parliament’s declaration targeted the church institutionally, rather than its individual followers.
“Estonia remains committed to protecting the constitutional guarantee of religious liberty while upholding the rights and freedoms of all its inhabitants,” the statement culminated.
Prior accusations were made by Estonia against the Estonian Orthodox Church’s leadership, a subset of the Moscow Patriarchate, for supporting the wide-scale Russian warfare.
Metropolitan Yevgeniy, head of the church, was forced to leave Estonia in February after his residency was not renewed, amidst allegations of his support for Russian belligerence.
Ukraine, similarly, has castigated the Moscow Patriarchate-affiliated Ukrainian Orthodox Church for backing the Russian martial effort.
The April pronouncement by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) implicated Metropolitan Arsenii of Donetsk Oblast in divulging Ukrainian troop locations.
FAQ Section
Q: What resolution has the Estonian parliament passed?
A: The Estonian parliament passed a resolution declaring the Russian Orthodox Church as an institution that sponsors Russian military aggression.
Q: Who is Patriarch Kirill?
A: Patriarch Kirill is the head of the Russian Orthodox Church and a staunch supporter of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Q: Has the Estonian parliament’s declaration affected religious freedom in Estonia?
A: No, the statement from the Estonian parliament specifically states that Estonia must preserve religious freedom and consider the rights and freedoms of everyone living in the country.
Q: Why was Metropolitan Yevgeniy asked to leave Estonia?
A: Metropolitan Yevgeniy, who led the Estonian Orthodox Church (a branch under Moscow Patriarchate), was asked to leave after the government decided not to extend his residence permit due to his support for Russian aggression.
Q: What actions has Ukraine taken against the Moscow Patriarchate-affiliated church?
A: Ukraine has also accused the church of supporting Russia’s warfare. The Security Service of Ukraine suspected Metropolitan Arsenii of revealing information about the location of Ukrainian troops.
Conclusion
The Estonian parliament’s strong stance against the Russian Orthodox Church as a sponsor of Russian military aggression reflects the broader international concern over the role of religious institutions in supporting state-linked military operations. Despite the distinctions made between the institution and its congregants, the decision signals a firm condemnation of the Moscow Patriarchate’s complicity in Russia’s war efforts. This action, taken by a former Soviet state, underscores the geopolitical tensions in the region and the complexities at the intersection of politics, religion, and security.
Note: TheUBJ is not the creator of the news content presented. The information is based on a rewriting of various internet sources through AI news feed technology and does not imply ownership or authorship of the original news content. The original link (https://kyivindependent.com/estonian-parliament-declares-russian-orthodox-church-sponsor-of-russian-military-aggression/) is included for reference.