ORTHODOX CHURCH OFFICIALS VISIT ESTONIA

January 15. Bishop Ambrosius of the Orthodox Church of Finland and Rev Heikki Huttunen, a representative of the ecumenical patriarchate of Constantinople, visited Estonia to deliver a message from Constantinople church leaders. They hoped to clarify some of the problems related to jurisdiction over the Estonian Orthodox Church and church property.

The Orthodox Church in Estonia will split in the near future, Rev Huttunen said after a meeting with Prime Minister Tiit Va"hi and Minister for Internal Affairs, Ma"rt Rask. Rev Huttunen hopes that the division of the church between two patriarchates -- Constantinople and Moscow -- would take place without conflicts and anger. "The Constantinople patriarchate has no political interest in Estonia," Rev Huttunen said. "The important issue for the Orthodox Church is to become strong in Estonia once again." Mr Rask said that the goal of the meeting was to state Estonia's unchanged position on the issue.

"All faiths are treated equally in Estonia and the state will not interfere with the problems between the churches," Mr Rask said. "All the problems will be resolved in accordance with the Law on Churches and Congregations." Mr Rask noted that all questions concerning church property will be settled in compliance with the Law on the Basics of the Property Reform.

The official name of the Estonian Orthodox Church has long been under dispute, Mr Rask said. "I hold that the Estonian Apostolic Orthodox Church, established in Estonia in 1923, exists on a basis of legal continuity and that it is entitled to have its property restored," he added. Another Orthodox church existing in Estonia is the Moscow-based Russian Orthodox Church which is not officially registered in Estonia.

Rev Huttunen and Bishop Ambrosius also met with President Meri. The Finnish bishop informed the President about the outcome of a recent meeting between the church leaders of the Moscow and Constantinople patriarchates, where an agreement was reached about the division of Estonian congregations under the two patriarchates. President Meri stressed that in Estonia, the church is separated from the state and the problems related to the governance of the Estonian Apostolic Orthodox Church and church property must be solved within the church.

The President echoed Mr Rask by stating that unlawfully expropriated property will have to be returned to the legal owner and all ownership disputes will have to be settled proceeding from the Law on the Basics of the Property Reform. President Meri supported the decision of the Estonian Apostolic Orthodox Church to give the congregations which have decided to remain under the governance of the Moscow patriarchate free use of church buildings and property. Besides the problems of the Estonian Orthodox Church, the meeting dealt with general questions of church life in Estonia.

LUTHERAN, ORTHODOX AND ISLAMIC CONGREGATIONS ARE THE LARGEST IN ESTONIA

January 18. According to the Board of Religious Affairs, 25 different denominations and 32 independent congregations operate in Estonia, the largest being Lutheran, Orthodox and Islamic denominations.

In 1995, the Estonian Evangelic Lutheran Church had 166 congregations totalling 172 000 members, the Estonian Apostolic Orthodox Church 34 congregations with 30 000 members and the Estonian Islamic Congregation had 10 000 members.

The Estonian Evangelical Christians and Baptists Union has 6500 members, the Apostolic Administration of Roman Catholic Church 3000 members, Estonian Jehovah Witnesses Congregations Union 2600 members, Estonian Christian Whitsuntide Church 2500 members, New-Apostolic Church 2000 members, Seven Days Adventists Estonian Church 1997 members and Estonian Methodist Church 1850 members.

The rest of the 25 denominations have about, or less than, a thousand members.

32 independent congregations and sects operating in Estonia have not disclosed data on their members to the Board of Religious Affairs.

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