Discussion on church situation in Estonia

DISCUSSION ON CHURCH SITUATION IN ESTONIA

Delegations of the Russian Orthodox Church and the Patriarchate of Constantinople met on 27 November 1998 to discuss a number of unsettled issues concerning the church situation in Estonia. The Russian Orthodox Church was represented by Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk and Kaliningrad, chairman of the Department for External Church Relations, and Archimandrite Yelisey, DECR secretary for inter-Orthodox relations and the Russian Orthodox church institutions abroad. The Patriarchate of Constantinople delegated Metropolitan John of Pergamon and Metropolitan Meliton of Philadelphia, General Secretary of the Synod of the Orthodox Church of Constantinople.

The sides discussed the possibility for the clergy of both jurisdiction to serve alternately at the Cathedral of the Assumption in Tarty and St. Isidore’s Church in Valga and the practice of co-celebration by the clergy of the two jurisdiction in Estonia. They also agreed to join efforts in applying to the Estonian Government for a legal settlement of the property issue faced by the Orthodox parishes in Estonia.