Lithuania explores rules for Orthodox Church tied to Moscow Patriarchate

Lithuania’s Justice Ministry is exploring legal ways to regulate the activities of the Orthodox Church linked to the Moscow Patriarchate, Justice Minister Rita Tamašunienė told reporters on Wednesday, according to LRT. She said the issue requires broader discussion and cooperation between institutions.

“We really need to look for legal possibilities because, as is known, the Church is separate from the state and the scope for regulation is quite limited,” Tamašunienė said.

The ministry has met with the head of the State Security Department to discuss possible responses to threats, including those that do not come from the Orthodox Church, she said. The department is conducting a more detailed assessment.

Tamašunienė said Lithuania’s situation differs from Estonia’s, which has decided to restrict by law the activities of an Orthodox Church linked to the Moscow Patriarchate and sever its ties with Moscow. She said Estonia’s measures could not be directly transferred into Lithuanian law, although Lithuania is also seeking legal tools to address threats arising from the activities of religious communities.

According to the minister, the part of the Orthodox Church affiliated with the Moscow Patriarchate has taken some steps not to support narratives of war and aggression, but its dependence on the patriarchate remains. She said possible approaches include legal restrictions, offering believers an alternative and holding dialogue with communities. One alternative, she said, is the Orthodox Church under the Patriarchate of Constantinople, which is expanding more rapidly.

The ministry has information that the Moscow-linked church has stopped using prayers for the Moscow Patriarchate and Patriarch Kirill, and now prays for peace and unity within the Lithuanian Church, Tamašunienė said.

After Russia launched its full-scale war against Ukraine, five Lithuanian priests belonging to the Russian Orthodox Church, which is under the Moscow Patriarchate, were expelled from the priesthood in summer 2022. The patriarchate said the decision followed their criticism of Kirill, who supported Russia’s aggression. The Lithuanian Orthodox Church said the priests faced disciplinary measures for breaking their oaths and making false statements, among other reasons.

In early 2024, Lithuania decided to restore an Orthodox Church under the Patriarchate of Constantinople. A Lithuanian intelligence assessment has warned that the Vilnius and Lithuanian Orthodox dioceses remain dependent on the Moscow Patriarchate, despite seeking independence. The State Security Department and the Second Investigation Department under the Ministry of National Defence said the Kremlin uses the dioceses to spread its ideology and strengthen its influence abroad.