The 10th anniversary of the Council of Churches in Estonia 

THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE COUNCIL OF CHURCHES IN ESTONIA

The anniversary gathering of the Council of Churches in Estonia took place on May 22 at the Piukhtitsy Convent of the Dormition. Ten years ago, His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia himself, then the administrator of the Tallinn and Estonia diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church, was among those who founded this forum.

In his message to the Council of Churches in Estonia, His Holiness Patriarch Alexy said that “on the threshold of the historical upheavals that were to cause the disintegration of the Soviet Union and even before Estonia gained her independence, Christian Churches in Estonia including the Orthodox Church, despite the forces of separation, managed to preserve their commitment to cooperation and mutual understanding… Ten years that have elapsed since have shown the significant role this organization has played in consolidating inter-Christian cooperation in Estonia. It is no secret that the way of Estonia to independence and the growth of the national awareness of her citizens has not always been smooth from the point of view of inter-ethnic and intercultural relations. In this situation, the presence a body responsible for Christian cooperation is a very important stabilizing factor, which, we hope, will continue contributing to the peaceful and friendly coexistence of various churches as well as religious and cultural traditions in independent Estonia”.

His Holiness the Patriarch also expressed the wish that the Council of Churches in Estonia may do what it can to help consolidate peace, mutual understanding and authentic civil society in Estonia, in which the cultural, religious and linguistic identity of all people living in Estonia should be respected.

Taking part in the celebrations in Piukhtitsy were Estonian Prime Minister Mart Laar. The high guest of this world-known stauropegial convent of the Russian Orthodox Church visited the Church of the Dormition where Archbishop Conrnilius of Tallinn and Estonia was celebrating the divine liturgy, made a tour of the convent to be introduced to its monastic life and saw the grace-giving Spring of the Mother of God. In his address to the participants in the celebrations, the prime minister noted the important role that the Council of Churches in Estonia played in the life of Estonian society and gave assurance that the Estonian government would give support to this inter-Christian organization and enter into constructive cooperation with it. The mother superior of the convent, Hegumenia Barbara, thanked the prime minister for coming to the convent and for his best wishes. She also wished blessed success to the representatives of various Christian confessions who gathered in Piukhtitsy in their work for strengthening peace in Estonia.

The anniversary gathering summed up the work the Council had carried out for ten years in inter-Christian relations and outlined plans for its future work, in which Orthodox representatives were expected to take a direct and active part. In his address, Archimandrite Elisey, representative of the Moscow Patriarchate in Estonia, said that the constructive participation of representatives of the Orthodox church in the work of the Council would contribute to the integration of various native ethnic cultures in Estonian society and to the consolidation of inter-ethnic unity necessary for creating lasting prospects for the development of religious and social life in the Republic of Estonia.