Estonians Debate Whether to Sell, Demolish, Leave Alone or Transform into a Museum Russian Orthodox Cathedral in the Center of Tallinn

Paul Goble

            Staunton, July 28 – Estonian Interior Minister Igor Taro has called for an end to the lease that the Orthodox Church has on the Nevsky Cathedral in central Tallinn, triggering a  debate about what should happen to it. Some Estonians favor relocating it, others demolishing, and still others integrating in more closely with Estonian culture.

            There is no question that the cathedral, one of Tallinn’s most iconic monuments, belongs to the Estonian government which since 2001 has leased it to the Estonian Christian Orthodox Church as the Russian church in Estonia is now known (news.err.ee/1610088106/tallinn-s-nevsky-cathedral-may-be-sold-demolished-or-made-into-a-museum).

            The Estonian news agency presents a survey of opinion among experts and political figures in Tallinn. Most of the people think that Taro has provoked a discussion that could get out of hand given how difficult it would be to move the church and  how counterproductive it would be for Estonia to demolish it.

            As a result, while this discussion is taking place in the final months before the ECOC must break all ties with Moscow, it does not seem likely that the Estonian government will accept the most radical proposals. Instead, it will certainly seek to stay within the law and with an eye to how Russia and others would react if it went further. 

            Indeed, it seems likely that if the ECOC does take all the steps that Estonian law requires as far as breaking with the Moscow Patriarchate, that church will probably be able to continue using the facility on Toompea hill for some time to come, although possibly being compelled to share it with others and thus become “more Estonian.”