His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and all Russia meets the President of Estonia A.Ryuitel
1.10.2003 · English, Архив 2003
HIS HOLINESS PATRIARCH ALEXY II OF MOSCOW AND ALL RUSSIA MEETS THE PRESIDENT OF ESTONIA A.RYUITEL
On 29 September 2003 His Holiness Patriarch Alexy of Moscow and All Russia met with the President of the Estonian Republic Arnold Ryuitel in the President’s Palace in Tallinn.
At the beginning of the meeting A.Ryuitel awarded His Holiness Patriarch Alexy with the ‘Marjamaa Cross’, 1st class, – a highest state awards of Estonia, ‘for the services to the Estonian people and State’. The Order ‘Marjamaa Cross’, instituted in 1996, has six classes. This award is conferred on the citizens of other states, who rendered special services to Estonia.
The Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church awarded Arnold Ryuitel with the Order of St.Sergius of Radonezh, 1st class. This award was conferred on the President of Estonia ‘in consideration of establishing justice towards the Estonian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate’.
The head of the Estonian State and the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church exchanged souvenirs.
During the talk of the President of Estonia with His Holiness Patriarch Alexy of Moscow and All Russia and the delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church there was discussed a number of questions, which concern the relations between the Church and the State, social life in Estonia and the relations with the countries where the believers of the Moscow Patriarchate live.
A.Ryuitel recalled with gratitude the cooperation with His Holiness at the time when Estonia was getting its independence as a state. ‘You understood all our problems and you have done a lot for the Christian perception of life to be preserved and confirmed in Estonia during hard years. You have managed to save the Puhtica Convent and many churches, which were threatened with closing. Many Russian people came to Estonia in the years before independence was regained, including the renowned members of our society: professors, medical doctors and well-known scholars, many of whom are Orthodox Christians. You have rendered great services to their coming to us and feeling free here’.
His Holiness the Patriarch expressed his gratitude to the President of Estonia for the invitation to visit his native country and for the high appreciation of his contribution to the life of Estonian society. ‘I have tried to be conducive to the preservation of the church life and cooperation between the Estonian and Russian people. People of different nationalities have never been antagonists, and – I am confident – will never be’, – said the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church.
‘A good experience of cooperation among the main confessions within the Council of Churches of Estonia has been accumulated. We have stood together against atheistic pressure. Let us hope that this work will be continued. The Estonian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate sees its vocation in developing relations between people, in overcoming contradictions, in promoting the united society and in building of such a state, which would be the beloved Motherland for all its citizens’.
His Holiness the Patriarch underlined that after A.Ryuitel was elected Head of the State the problem of civil recognition of the Estonian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate has been solved. His Holiness said that the final solution of the questions of the property is very important in order that two Orthodox jurisdictions could have equal rights, as it is stipulated in the agreements with the Patriarchate of Constantinople. The President of Estonia assured him that the problems would find their fair solution.
Also touched upon at the meeting was the question of the situation of the Russian-speaking people in the country and the creation of conditions for their worthy life in Estonia. In connection with this discussed was the importance of the development of relations in the cultural, economic and religious spheres with Russia, Ukraine, Byelorussia and Moldavia and other countries, where the majority of the population professes the Orthodox faith.
After the talk the President of Estonia addressed His Holiness the Patriarch with welcoming words in the presence of numerous representatives of the Estonian and foreign mass media. A.Ryuitel said: ‘Our country has gained independence without bloodshed, and people who lived in Estonia at that time rendered a great service to it. There are representatives of more than one hundred nationalities among them. The contribution of Your Holiness into the life of our society was particularly important. You maintained the Christian faith here, and, thanks to that, after Estonia had regained its independence it was easier to us to develop the tradition of the Christian attitude to life. Many thanks to you for everything you have done for Estonia and – once again – welcome!’
In his address to the audience His Holiness the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia noted’ The Orthodox Church in Estonia has always tried to consolidate peace and accord among people. The Estonian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate will continue its mission of spiritual care for the believers, will perform its social ministry and help overcome the uncertainty in society so that all members of the Orthodox Church could consider Estonia as their Motherland and work for its benefit. We have touched upon the situation of the Russian-speaking population in Estonia. I hope that the relations of Estonia with Russia, as well as with the countries, in which the majority of the population professes Orthodox faith will deepen’.
In his answer to the question of the journalists about an agreement between the Government of Georgia and the Vatican, which has not been signed, His Holiness Patriarch Alexy said: ‘I think that the will of the people of Georgia has influenced the change of the position of the Georgian State.’
The journalists also asked His Holiness about the problems of the Estonian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate, which have not been solved. His Holiness answered: ‘An agreement was reached in 1996 in Zurich at the meeting of the delegations of the Patriarchates of Constantinople and Moscow that both jurisdictions in Estonia shall enjoy equal rights. Regrettably, one jurisdiction at present owns property, while our parishes have it on long-term lease. The legal decision has not yet been taken ON some objects listed in the protocol of intent. We hope that these problems will be solved. No one will take away this property from Estonia, It will stay here, but the parishes, which use this property now, should have equal legal right to it.’
After the meeting in the Kadriorg Palace a dinner was given, present at which were members of the delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church, the Primate and clergymen of the Estonian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate, ministers of the Estonian government, representatives of the Christian Churches of Estonia, corps diplomatique and public circles.
While greeting His Holiness the Patriarch the President of Estonia said: ‘Each of us perceives life and changes in it in the way of his own. Recalling the first years after the independence was regained, one can say that the life in Estonia has changed beyond recognition. We are confident that the country is changing for the better. Unfortunately, many economic differences, which we hoped to cope with quickly, have not been overcome, but we work for the solution of these problems.
Have we changed? Do we find enough time for our near and dear? We try to live at the pace, which the world around us dictates us. Some of us, unfortunately, were not prepared for such quick changes. Society, in which we live, is being even more polarized. We talk a lot about the economic success in Estonia, while common people, who need support and recognition, find themselves unjustifiably beyond the sphere of our attention, as seems to me.
We know our politicians, outstanding sportsmen, esteemed workers of culture and businessmen. Do we know equally well our spiritual mentors? Even less attention we pay to those who took pastoral care for people during the time when a human person was just a means for the achievement of goals set by the state.’
The President highly appreciated the personal contribution of His Holiness the Patriarch into the spiritual edifying in the land of Estonia and noted in particular his work for the setting up of the Council of Church of Estonia. Having reminded the audience that the first books in the Estonian language were the translations from the Bible, A.Ryuitel pointed out the special role of the Church in the education of the Estonian people.
A.Ryuitel remembered his previous meetings with His Holiness Patriarch Alexy with heartfelt warmth and gratitude and noted that he has always found understanding and support of the aspirations of the people of Estonia with His Holiness.
His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia addressed those present with a welcoming speech. The full text is given on the official site of the Russian Orthodox Church.
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