Security of Faith
The Estonian State and the Estonian Orthodox Church
Deutsche Fassung
Abstract
In Estonia, the authorities are taking action against the Estonian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate. They see the church as an agent of Russian influence and a threat to Estonia. This policy, which has now culminated in a de facto ban on the church, is not based on any evidence. Thus, security policy arguments are being used to justify policies that favour the Estonian Apostolic Orthodox Church. This cannot succeed and will only lead to the exacerbation of long-standing conflicts that were stably resolved until 2022. Contrary to claims, the Estonian Orthodox Church is not a “Russian” church. However, many Russian speakers in Estonia who rarely or never attend church services now see “their” church under threat. There is a real danger for Estonia if Putin exploits the conflict and positions himself as the protector of the “Russians” in Estonia.
(Osteuropa 5/2025, pp. 175–190)