Local Orthodox Churches expect a fair solution of the Estonian problem

LOCAL ORTHODOX CHURCHES EXPECT A FAIR SOLUTION OF THE ESTONIAN PROBLEM

As is known, Metropolitan Meliton of Philadelphia, general secretary of the Holy Synod of the Patriarchate of Constantinople, in informing the press about the results of the meeting of heads and representatives of the Local Orthodox Churches on December 25-26, 2001, in Istanbul, declared that “the participation of Metropolitan Stephen of Estonia in the meeting and the fact that he signed the official documents adopted by it legitimize him as head of the Estonian Church” in the eyes of the whole Orthodox world.

In connection with this statement, His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia sent a letter to the heads of the Local Orthodox Churches, asking them to inform him whether the signature Metropolitan Stephan put under the Message of Primates of Orthodox Churches issued in Istanbul means that he is recognized as the legitimate head of Orthodoxy in Estonia and that the actions of the Patriarchate of Constantinople in that country are approved.

Replies to the letter of His Holiness Patriarch Alexy have been already received from the Primates of the Orthodox Churches of Antioch, Georgia, Serbia, Romania and Poland. None of these letters have confirmed the position of the Patriarchate of Constantinople. On the contrary, they expressed the hope that the Estonian church problem would be resolved in the course of bilateral negotiations between the Patriarchates of Constantinople and Moscow. His Beatitude Ignatios IV, Patriarch of Great Antioch and All the East, for instance, stated in his reply that he “will be glad to hear about concrete and fair decisions on the problem of the Estonian Church”. The same spirit prevails in the messages from His Holiness and Beatitude Iliya II, Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, and His Beatitude Patriarch Teoctist of Romania.

His Beatitude Savva, Metropolitan of Warsaw and All Poland, referring to the participation of Metropolitan Stephan in the pan-Orthodox events in Istanbul, pointed out that “the signatures of Primates of Churches together with that of Metropolitan Stephan… do not mean that his actions in Estonia are accepted”.

The Serbian Orthodox Church is in full solidarity with the Patriarchate of Moscow. In his letter, His Holiness Paul, Patriarch of Serbia, said in particular: “Having in mind… the facts and historical circumstances which have largely led to this problem… the Holy Bishops’ Synod of the Serbian Orthodox Church fully support the position of the sister Russian Orthodox Church on this problem and also supports the measures she has taken for its fair solution”.