The abbess of the Pyukhtitsky Monastery asks the President of Estonia to impose a veto on the law on churches
The abbess of Filaret, the abbess of the Pyukhtitsky Monastery, on Thursday, April 10, sent the appeal to Estonian President Alaris to not approve the amendments to the law on churches and religious communities approved on the eve of Riigikog.
We publish the full text of the appeal.
-Awn the President of the Estonian Republic Alar Caris!
On April 09, 2025, Riigikogu adopted the law on amendments to the law on churches and parishes with 60 votes. The adopted amendments force us to interrupt the canonical ties with the Moscow Patriarchate, since our unity with the Church Mother will now be considered in the Estonian Republic as a violation of the law …
We turn to you as a guarantor of constitutionality at the final stage of the legislative process. According to § 107 of the Constitution of the Republic of Estonia, you have the right to impose a veto on the law and abandon its publication.
We have always highly appreciated § 40 of the Constitution of the Estonian Republic, proclaiming freedom of religion, since it is it that is the basis of our monastic life. Now this freedom has received a serious blow. The implementation of this law means for us a violation of monastic vows, which we cannot do under any circumstances.
According to § 12 of the Constitution, discrimination on the basis of religion is prohibited. It is this paragraph, coupled with § 11, that serves as the basis for assessing the neutrality, proportionality and justice of the laws adopted. The adopted law does not meet these criteria, since it is directed against a specific religious association. We have always adhered to laws and peace; They did not violate a single law of the Republic of Estonia and always prayed for Estonia. Our pain is immense, and the reason is completely unfair, because changes to the law are initiated for false reasons.
Arguments in support of the law are extremely unconvincing. The law is directed against the nuns of the Pyukhtitsky monastery and does not cause confidence from the point of view of legitimacy – neither in the secular or in the church world. A change in jurisdiction is the internal cause of the Church. The decision on this belongs exclusively to church competence.
We are forced to violate all canonical rules and unilaterally go under the jurisdiction of the Patriarchate of Constantinople. The law intervenes in the sensitive sphere of inter-church relations without any analysis of potential risks. This intervention occurs in a way that indicates a weak understanding of the nuances of confessional dynamics and historical context.
In no case do we doubt the state’s right to protect national security, but this right should not be used as an instrument of destruction of trust, polarization of society or pressure on religious associations.
In our daily life, we do not confess and do not practice any forms of thinking or behavior that could pose a threat or harm anyone’s safety. We are faithful to the state and the law enforcement in which we live and act. Therefore, we ask for one thing – to understand and protect our faith and devotion.
With all our hearts, we ask you not to publish a law undermining constitutional principles and violating international obligations of the Estonian Republic. We ask you to maintain objectivity and impartiality.
Please leave us our monastery life, which is sacred to us.
Sincerely and in obedience to the Lord –
On behalf of all 96 nuns of the Pyukhtitsky monastery
Igumenia Filaret
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