Kuremäe abbess: New legislation will effectively close the convent

The Abbess of Kuremäe Convent Filareta Kalatšova sent an open letter to members of the Riigikogu, claiming that if the amendments to the Churches and Congregations Act, initiated by the Ministry of the Interior, are approved, the convent will effectively be shut down.
"For us, the purpose of the bill is clear – the legal amendment forces the Estonian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate (MPEÕK) to change jurisdiction and come under the authority of Constantinople. Our repeated explanations that the monastery cannot unilaterally initiate or abandon its jurisdiction have not been taken into account," she wrote.
The abbess added that by approving the legislative changes, the Riigikogu would effectively declare the convent illegal, leaving only two options: either a change of jurisdiction or forced liquidation.
"You understand perfectly well that with your actions, you are effectively closing the convent. Do you really want to go down in history as the deputies who forcibly ended the existence of an Orthodox convent that has operated in Estonia for over one hundred years?" she wrote.
Filareta said she was astonished at the position that places the monastery's residents in a situation where they are held accountable for decisions made by politicians.

"We have withdrawn from the earthly world, we are far removed from political issues, we live outside politics, serving God through prayer and work. Yet, we are literally being dragged into the center of politics and accused of refusing to engage in dialogue."
The abbess wrote that the initiators of the bill are forcing the nuns to commit a canonical crime, and justifying it by claiming that they are trying to protect the convent from problems.
Ministry: There are not plans to close the convent
Martin Tulit, head of the department of religious affairs and civil society at the Ministry of the Interior, said the reality is different. No one is planning to close the convent, which is also known as Pühtitsa Convent, with the amendments to the Churches and Congregations Act.
"Of course, we understand the abbess' fear that continuing ties with the Moscow Church, which blesses Putin's holy war in Ukraine, could lead to the forced closure of the convent as a legal entity that does not comply with Estonian laws. However, this would only happen if the convent decides to remain under Moscow's authority and service," he said.
Tulit said the new legislation did not appear overnight or come as a surprise. The convent has also had almost a year to consider its next steps and options. This includes the canonical connection.

"We would like to point out that the Pühtitsa Convent has changed its canonical affiliation before in history, doing so independently and on its own initiative. All possibilities for the monastery to continue its activities still exist today," he highlighted.
The official said the greatest danger to the convent is when they obey evil unconditionally and without their own free will.
"Before God, all are equal and must do their best not to give in to evil. The state can help by clearly defining through legislation what is right and what is wrong in Estonia, and organizations wishing to operate here must abide by Estonian laws," he said.
Tulit added that the convent's website says it began operating in 1891.
"With this, the monastery's community itself acknowledges its continuity across different canonical affiliations. For 134 years, they have not been solely a monastery directly subordinate to Moscow — this period also includes their affiliation with the Estonian Apostolic Orthodox Church during the time of the Republic of Estonia. Their transition under Moscow's authority occurred alongside the Soviet occupation."
Legislative changes

Last week, ERR reported that the Ministry of the Interior hopes the almost year-long saga with MPEÕK will be resolved by summer after it submitted new legislation to the Riigikogu.
The bill specifies that a church, monastery, or other religious association operating in Estonia may not be directed in its activities by, or be linked through its statutes, other founding documents, or financially to, a governing body, spiritual center, religious leader, or organization located in a foreign country that poses a threat to Estonia's national security, public order, or constitutional order.
The ban would also apply to a person or institution that incites war, terrorism, violence, or supports military aggression.
If the legislation is passed, churches and congregations will be given a two-month transition period to comply with the law.
The amendments are prompted by the Moscow Patriarchate's public support for Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine.
This led the Riigikogu to declare the patriarchate an institution supporting aggression.
The Ministry of the Interior has pointed out that MPEÕK, and Patriarch Kirill personally, have explicitly and repeatedly supported Russia's war of aggression in Ukraine and have also made statements that indirectly call Estonia's sovereignty into question.
This article was updated to add comments from Martin Tulit.
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Editor: Urmet Kook, Helen Wright