Diplo #7: Controversy and change rock religious institutions: Estonian Church, Hilarion Alfeyev allegations, and Vatican excommunication
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Talks underway for Estonian Church to change Russian affiliation
ROC’s Hilarion Alfeyev accused of sexual harassment
Vatican excommunicates controversial Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò
Talks Underway for Estonian Church to Change Russian Affiliation
Authorities in Estonia are still pushing for a change of subordination of the Russian-tied Estonian Orthodox Church. After months of pressing on the matter, Bishop Daniel of the Estonian Orthodox Church (EOC-MP) confirmed that discussions are underway to assess the possibility of detaching the church from Moscow by revising its statute.
Commenting on this, Bishop Daniel said that talks are currently in progress but that it would be premature to speculate about any concrete outcomes or deadlines. He also confirmed that contact has been made with the Russian Orthodox Church about the matter.
"We are in the process of doing that, and we cannot give a united answer that we are going anywhere. We are dealing with matters concerning our statute, we are in contact with the representatives of the Patriarchate,” Bishop Daniel said.
A Ministry of Interior official in Tallinn told ERR News that the EOC-MP has still not officially decided to detach from the Russian Orthodox Church.
Patriarch Kirill’s declaration from March in which Patriarch Kirill called Russia’s full-scale assault on Ukraine a holy war alarmed the authorities in Tallinn about the canonical linkage between the Estonian and the Russian Orthodox Churches.
The Estonian Parliament adopted a resolution the following month (May) designating the Russian Orthodox Church as an “institution that is sponsoring the military aggression of the Russian Federation”.
There has been hesitation and unwillingness on the side of the Estonian Orthodox Church to expedite the cutting of the links with Moscow. Facing increasing pressure, it consulted a law firm (Sirel & Partners) to help in the legal aspects of its relationship with the state.
Bishop Daniel's reservation about cutting links with the Moscow Patriarchate is evident in his statement below:
"Today, let's say one person was wrong. Then I moved under the canonical leadership of another person. Tomorrow, another person is wrong – do I then have to look for a third person? This is not the way things have ever been done in the church, and I would very much like them not to happen now as a result of state intervention. In politics, we see that people change and governments change and parties change – it all happens very quickly. In the church we would expect a slightly different approach," stated the Estonian hierarch.
ROC’s Hilarion Alfeyev accused of sexual harassment
Allegations of sexual harassment by the former first diplomat of the Russian Orthodox Church, Met. Hilarion (Alfeyev), have been made in a journalist investigation published by Novaya Gazeta Europe. A man who worked for Alfeyev (house attendant) is alleging sexual harassment that is said to have taken place between 2022 and 2024. Novaya Gazeta Europe says it possesses materials to support some of the claims.
The Metropolitan rejected the accusations and has returned to Moscow for consultations. The allegations centre on Alfeyev’s recurring inappropriate physical contact with the man who worked for him in Budapest. The man alleges that the Metropolitan threatened him that there would be consequences if he decided to leave. No sexual intercourse took place, according to the man.
A criminal investigation was opened in Hungary after the man who alleges sexual harassment had taken an expensive watch and money from Alfeyev before leaving him.
Balkan Insight covered the story, highlighting another important angle. The man who is the alleged victim took many photos that reveal Alfeyev's luxurious lifestyle. In one of the photos, it can be seen that Alfeyev was immediately granted a Hungarian passport. This, according to the article published by Balkan Insight, allowed the circumvention of EU sanctions (unrestricted travel and banking, among other benefits).
Hilarion Alfeyev has spearheaded Kirill’s “Russian World” ideology and has been a harsh opponent of the Ecumenical Patriarch and Ukrainian autocephaly. He occupied the position of Head of the Department for External Church Relations until 2022. Shortly after the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, he was dismissed from this position and sent to lead the Russian Orthodox Church in Hungary.
This is a developing story.
Vatican excommunicates controversial Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò
The former Nuncio to the US, Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò, has been excommunicated by the Vatican’s doctrinal office after being found guilty of schism.
In a statement published by the dicastery for the doctrine of faith, it says:
“His public statements manifesting his refusal to recognize and submit to the Supreme Pontiff, his rejection of communion with the members of the Church subject to him, and of the legitimacy and magisterial authority of the Second Vatican Council are well known.”
“At the conclusion of the penal process, the Most Reverend Carlo Maria Viganò was found guilty of the reserved delict of schism,” the statement from the Vatican says.
In the past, Viganò had been openly critical of Pope Francis’s actions on topics such as endorsement of COVID-19 vaccines and his role in the 2018 Vatican-China agreement on bishop appointments. He openly accused the Pope of “heresy and schism”.
He also accused the Pope and other representatives of the Catholic church of covering up sexual abuse allegations. In 2012, Viganò was part of the Vatican leaks scandal, which uncovered corruption in the Vatican. In letters sent to the Pope (Benedict) and Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone (former Secretary of State), Viganò revealed and complained about overspending on contracts.
After the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Archbishop Viganò was once again in the media eye for justifying Putin’s invasion of Ukraine and blaming the “deep state” in the US, Nato and the EU for the war. He echoed Putin’s take on the war throughout.
Viganò served as the Vatican’s Ambassador to the United States from 2011 to 2016. Before that, he also served in that role in Nigeria and was dispatched as the Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the Council of Europe.
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Andreja
For a more extended analysis, check out last week’s main piece about the direction the Bulgarian Orthodox Church is taking after the election of a pro-Moscow Patriarch.
