Head of Russian Orthodox Church: I know Estonia well

Photo: Liis Treimann / Postimees

The primate of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill, who arrived in Tallinn Friday morning for his first official visit to Estonia, told reporters at the airport that he has been to Estonia on several occasions and knows the country well.

«My arrival is connected with the 20th anniversary since my predecessor, the late Patriarch Alexy II, signed the tomos confirming the autonomy and self-governance of the Estonian Orthodox Church. This was a big and important event that laid the groundwork for further strengthening of Orthodoxy on Estonian soil,» the church leader said.

Touching on the position of the Russian Orthodox church in Estonia, the patriarch recalled that the Estonian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate whose autonomy was confirmed by Alexy II 20 years ago is active in this country.

«Church life continues developing regardless of rudiments of the past. We hope very much that all those rudimental problems will find a solution, because the Estonian Orthodox Church is a church for Orthodox believers living in Estonia,» he underlined.

«The Estonian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate is not a church of a foreign country, let alone a foreign agent. It is a local Christian Orthodox community with a history that goes back several centuries. Let us hope the turbulence of the end of the past century will come to an end on Estonian soil as well,» the patriarch said.

Kirill is accompanied in Estonia by a high-level delegation including the head of the Moscow Patriarchate's foreign relations department, Metropolitan Ilarion, and head of public relations Archpriest Vsevolod Chaplin.

The patriarch announced that his planned meeting with President Toomas Hendrik Ilves will not take place as the president is currently on a foreign visit.

Foreign Minister Urmas Paet will host a festive lunch in honor of the Russian church leader later in the day.