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name=Estonian Apostolic The Orthodox Churchof Estonia|

recognition=19201923, 1996 by [[Church of RussiaConstantinople|RussiaConstantinople]]|primate=[[Cornelius Stephanos (YacobsCharalambides) of Tallinn and All Estonia|Metr. Stephanos]]|

music= [[Byzantine chant|Byzantine]] [[Russian chant|Russian]] and [[Estonian chant|Estonian]]|calendar=[[Revised Julian Calendar|Julian]]|population=25028,000[http://www.cnewa.org/ecc-bodypg.aspx?eccpageID=33]|website= [http://www.orthodoxeoc.ee / Church of Estonia]

The '''Church current primate of Estonia''' or the '''Estonian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate''' church is His Eminence [[Stephanos ('''Moskva Patriarhaadi Eesti Őigeusu Kirik'''Charalambides) is am exarchate of the Patriarchate Tallinn|Stephanos]], [[Metropolitan]] of Moscow who's Primate is confirmed by the Most Holy Patriarch of Moscow. Its official name in English is the '''Estonian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate'''. This church numbers roughly 250,000 faithful Tallinn and is the largest Orthodox Church in all Estonia(elected 1999).

The current primate of This autonomous church should not be confused with the church is His Eminence [[Cornelius Church of Estonia (YacobsMoscow Patriarchate)|church of the similar name]], which is an [[Metropolitan bishop|Metropolitanexarchate]] of the [[TallinnMoscow Patriarchate]] and All Estonia, elected in 2000.

Another church uncanonically established by == History ==Orthodox missionaries were active among the Estonians in the Ecumenical Patriarchate southeast regions of Constantinople is the socalled "Estonian Apostolic area, closest to [[Pskov]], in the 10th through 12th centuries. The first mention of an Orthodox Church" [[congregation]] in Estonia was in 1030 in Tartu. Around 600 AD on the east side of Toome Hill (Eesti Apostlik-Õigeusu KirikToomemägi) it is an the Estonians erected a fortress named Tarbatu. In 1030 the Kievan prince, Jaroslav the Wise, raided Tarbatu and built his own fort in this place as well as the congregation in a [[Wiktionary:autonomy|autonomouscathedral]] dedicated to St. [[Eastern Orthodox Church|George the Trophy-bearer]]. OrthodoxChristians were later expelled from the city by the Germans in 1472, who [[martyr]] church whose ed their [[primatepriest]] , Isidor, along with a number of Orthodox faithful (the group is confirmed by the commemorated on [[Orthodox Church of ConstantinopleJanuary 8]]. The head of this church is Metropolitan Stephanos (Charalambides). This church numbers about 20,000 faithful.

The creation Little is known about the history of the alternate church to in the area until the canonical 17th and 18th centuries, when many [[Estonian Orthodox ChurchOld Believers]] caused the name of fled there from Russia to avoid the liturgical reforms introduced by Patriarch [[Nikon of Constantinople to be removed from the dyptichs of the Russian Orthodox ChurchMoscow]].

==History==Orthodox missionaries were active among In 1917 the Estonians in the southeast regions of the areafirst Estonian, Platon (Paul Kulbusch), closest to was [[Pskovconsecration of a bishop|consecrated]]Bishop of Riga and Vicar of Tallinn. Two years later, in the 10th through 12th centuriesBolsheviks murdered Platon and his [[deacon]] for political reasons. The first mention of an Orthodox congregation 81 years later, in Estonia 2000, Bp. Platon was in 1030 in what is now [[Tartuglorification|proclaimed a saint]]. Around 600 AD on by the east side Churches of Toome Hill (Toomemägi) the Estonians erected a fortress named Tarbatu. In 1030 the Kievan princeConstantinople and Russia, commemorated on [[Yaroslav I the Wise|Yaroslav the WiseJanuary 14]], raided Tarbatu and built his own fort in this place as well as the congregation in a cathedral dedicated to St. George the Trophy-bearer. Orthodox Christians were expelled from Tarbatu and southeastern Estonia a few years later.

As a result of the [[Northern Crusades]] in the beginning of the 13th century, Estonia was conquered by [[Denmark]] and the [[Teutonic Order]], and thus fell under the control of [[Western Christianity]]. However, Russian merchants were later able to set up small Orthodox congregations in several Estonian towns. One such congregation was expelled from the town of Dorpat (Tartu) by the Germans in 1472, who martyred their [[priest]], Isidor, along with a number of Orthodox faithful (the group is commemorated on [[January 8]]). Little is known about the history of the church in the area until the 17th and 18th centuries, when many [[Old Believers]] fled there from Russia to avoid the liturgical reforms introduced by Patriarch [[Patriarch Nikon|Nikon]] of Moscow. In the 18th and 19th centuries, Estonia was a part of the Imperial Russian Empire, having been conquered by emperor [[Peter the Great]]. A significant number of Estonian peasants were converted to the Orthodox faith in the hope of obtaining land. Numerous Orthodox churches were built. In 1850 the Diocese of Riga (in Latvia) was established by the [[Russian Orthodox Church]] and many Estonian Orthodox believers included. In the late 19th century, a wave of [[Russification]] was introduced, supported by the Russian hierarchy but not by the local Estonian clergy. The Cathedral of St. Alexander Nevsky in Tallinn and the Pühtitsa (Pukhtitsa) convent in Kuremäe in East Estonia were also built around this time. In 1917 the first Estonian, Platon (Paul Kulbusch), was ordained Bishop of Riga and Vicar of Tallinn. Two years later, the Bolsheviks murdered Platon and his [[deacon]]. 81 years later, in 2000, Bp. Platon was [[glorification|proclaimed a saint]] by the Churches of Constantinople and Russia, commemorated on [[January 14]]. After the Estonian Republic was proclaimed in 1918, the Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church, St. [[Tikhon of Moscow|Tikhon]], in 1920 recognised the Orthodox Church of Estonia (OCE) as being independent. Archbishop Aleksander Paulus was elected and ordained installed as the head of the Estonian church. In September 1922 the Council of the Estonian Apostolic Orthodox Church took the decision 1923 Abp. Aleksander turned to address the then infamous Patriarch of Constantinople, [[Meletius IV (Metaxakis) of Constantinople]], with a petition to adopt the Estonian Orthodox Church under the jurisdiction of the Patriarchate of Constantinople and to declare it autocephalousreceive canonical recognition. Later on The same year the Metropolitan of Tallinn and all Estonia Alexander wrote that it OCE was done under an intense pressure of canonically subordinated to the state. On 7 July 1923 in Constantinople Meletios Metaxakis presented the Tomos on the adoption of Estonian Orthodox Church under the jurisdiction of the Patriarchate Patriarchy of Constantinople as a separate church and gained extensive [[autonomy "Estonian Orthodox Metropolia".  At the suggestion of the Patriarchate of Constantinople Estonia was divided into three dioceses: in Tallinn, Narva and Pechery. Evsevy (Drozdov) became the head of Narva cathedra, John (Bulin), a graduate of St Petersburg Theological Academy, became bishop of Pechery in 1926. He headed the diocese until 1932 and left it because of the disagreements on the properties of Pskov-Pechery Monastery. Bishop John spent several years in Yugoslavia and came back to Estonia in late 30-s. He backed actively the returning of Estonian Orthodox Church under the jurisdiction of Moscow Patriarchate. On 18 October 1940 bishop John was arrested by NKVD in Pechery, accused of anti-Soviet agitation and propaganda and he was executed on 30 July 1941 in Leningrad]]. Before 1941, one fifth of the total Estonian population (who had been mostly [[Lutheran]] since the [[Reformation]] in the early 1500s when the country was controlled 16th century occupation of Estonia by the Teutonic OrderSweden) were Orthodox Christians under the Patriarchy of Constantinople. There were 158 parishes in Estonia and 183 clerics in the Estonian church. There was also a Chair of Orthodoxy in the Faculty of Theology at the University of Tartu. There was a [[Pskovo-Pechorsky Monasterymonastery]] in [[Pechory|Petseri]], two convents—in Narva and Kuremäe, a priory in Tallinn and a [[seminary]] in Petseri. The ancient monastery in Petseri (Pechory, which used to belong to the Estonian Republic, now belongs to Russia) was preserved from the mass church destructions that occurred in Soviet Russia.

Soon after Just before the war broke outsecond Soviet occupation in 1944 and the dissolution of the Estonian synod, the [[primate]] of the church, Metropolitan Alexander declared his break-up Aleksander, went into exile along with Mother-21 clergymen and about 8,000 Orthodox believers. The Orthodox Church and reunion of Estonia in Exile with its synod in Sweden continued its activity according to the canonical statutes, until the Patriarchate restoration of Estonian independence in 1991. Before he died in 1953, Metr. Aleksandr established his community as an [[exarchate]] under Constantinople. Bishop Most of Narva Paul the other bishops and clergy who remained loyal behind were deported to Mother-ChurchSiberia. During the occupation Germans didn't hamper Metropolitan Alexander to lead the life of his parishes In 1958, a new synod was established in exile, and bishop Paul to be in charge of the Russian diocese in Narva and many other parishes loyal to Russian Orthodox Churchchurch organized from Sweden.

Not long before [[Image:Ecum. Patriarch Bartholomew.jpg|thumb|125px|left|Patr. [[Bartholomew I (Archontonis) of Constantinople|Bartholomew I of Constantinople]]]]Following the liberation breakup of Tallinn Metropolitan Alexander left Estoniathe Soviet Union, divisions within the Synod of Estonian Apostolic Orthodox Church addressed Alexy (Simansky), Metropolitan of Leningrad community in Estonia arose between those who wished to remain under Russian authority and Novgorod, with a petition those who wished to return to resume the jurisdiction of the Moscow Ecumenical Patriarchate, with the dispute often taking place along ethnic lines, many Russians having immigrated to Estonia during the Soviet occupation. Lengthy negotiations between the two patriarchates failed to produce any agreement.

Just before In 1993, the synod of the second Soviet occupation Orthodox Church of Estonia in 1944 and Exile was re-registered as the dissolution legal successor of the Estonian synodautonomous Orthodox Church of Estonia, the and on [[primateFebruary 20]] of the church, Metropolitan Aleksander1996, went into exile along with 21 clergymen and about 8,000 Orthodox believers. The Orthodox Church Ecumenical Patriarch [[Bartholomew I (Archontonis) of Estonia Constantinople|Bartholomew I]] renewed the [[tomos]] granted to the OCE in Exile with 1923, restoring its synod in Sweden continued its activity according canonical subordination to the canonical statutes, until the restoration of Estonian independence in 1991Ecumenical Patriarchate. Before he died in 1953, Metr. Aleksander established his community as an This action brought immediate protest from Patriarch [[exarchateAlexei II (Ridiger) of Moscow|Alexei II]] under Constantinople. Most of the other bishops and clergy who remained behind were deported to Siberia. In 1958Moscow Patriarchate, a new synod was established in exilewhich regarded the Estonian church as being part of its territory, and the church was organized Patriarch of Moscow temporarily removed the name of the Ecumenical Patriarch from Swedenthe [[diptychs]].

Following the breakup [[Image:Stefanos of Tallinn.jpg|125px|right|thumb|Metr. [[Stephanos (Charalambides) of the Soviet Union, divisions within the Tallinn|Stephanos (Charalambides)]]]]An agreement was reached in which local congregations could choose which jurisdiction to follow. The Orthodox community in Estonia arose between those who wished to remain under Russian authority and those who wished to return to the jurisdiction , which accounts for about 14% of the Ecumenical Patriarchatetotal population, remains divided, with the dispute often taking place along majority of faithful (mostly ethnic lines, many Russians having immigrated to Estonia during the Soviet occupation) remaining under Moscow. Lengthy negotiations between As of a government report of November 2003, about 20,000 believers (mostly ethnic Estonians) in 60 parishes are part of the two patriarchates failed autonomous church, with 150,000 faithful in 31 parishes, along with the monastic community of Pukhitsa, paying allegiance to produce any agreementMoscow.

In 19931999, the synod of church gained a resident hierarch (it had been under the Orthodox Church Archbishop of Estonia in Exile was re-registered as the autonomous Orthodox [[Church of Estonia, and on [[February 20Finland|Finland]], 1996, Ecumenical Patriarch as ''[[Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople|Bartholomew Ilocum tenens]] renewed the tomos granted to the OCE in 1923''), restoring its canonical subordination to the Ecumenical Patriarchate. This action brought immediate protest from the Metropolitan [[Patriarch Stephanos (Charalambides) of MoscowTallinn|PatriarchStephanos (Charalambides)]] , who had formerly been an [[Patriarch Alexius II|Alexei IIauxiliary bishop]] of under the Moscow Ecumenical Patriarchate, which regarded the Estonian church as being part 's Metropolitan of its territory, and the Patriarch of Moscow temporarily removed the name of the Ecumenical Patriarch from the diptychsFrance.

An agreement was reached In 2013, in which local congregations could choose which jurisdiction response to follow. The Orthodox community in a joint invitation by the Autonomous Church of Estonia, which accounts for about 14% and the President of the total populationRepublic of Estonia, remains dividedHis All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew traveled to Tallinn, with the majority of faithful (mostly ethnic Russians) remaining under Moscow. As of a government report of November 2003Estonia, on September 4, about 202013,000 believers (mostly ethnic Estonians) in 60 parishes are part order to preside over celebrations for the 90th anniversary since the declaration of the autonomous church, with 250,000 faithful in 31 parishes, along with Estonian Church as Autonomous by the monastic community Mother Church of Pühtitsa, paying traditional allegiance to MoscowConstantinople.

In 2000==Estonian Orthodoxy today==The Orthodox Church of Estonia today consists of 73 parishes, served by 2 bishops, On 6 November 2000 Archbishop Cornelius became Metropolitan of Tallinn 33 priests and All Estonia8 deacons.

*[http://www.cnewa.org/ecc-bodypg-us.aspx?eccpageID=33 &IndexView=toc The Estonian Apostolic Orthodox Church] by Ronald Roberson, a Roman Catholic priest and scholar*''This article incorporates text from the OrthodoxWiki ([http://www.orthodoxwiki.org/Church_of_Estonia]). Please edit and expand it.''

 *[http://www.orthodoxeoc.ee/indexeng.php Estonian Orthodox Church of Moscow Patriarhate]*[http://www.eoc.ee/ Estonian Orthodox Church (EP)Estonia - Official Site]

[[Categoryel:Jurisdictions|EstoniaΕκκλησία της Εσθονίας]][[fr:Église d'Estonie (Patriarcat œcuménique)]][[ro:Biserica Ortodoxă a Estoniei]]