Estonia
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Eastern Europe
Celebration for gay community if Estonia brings same-sex marriage to Eastern Europe
Estonia was the first country to open marriage to people of the same sex. Since January 1st, homosexuals can tie the knot and even adopt children. The Estonian parliament decided on a “gender-neutral” marriage legislation in June. The law no longer mentions “a man and a woman” but “two natural…
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Eastern Europe
Estonian Methodists leave global group after LGBT conflict
The Methodist churches in Estonia have decided to leave their global mother church. A large majority voted for secession. During a church meeting, 97 per cent of the attending representatives indicated their support for leaving the United Methodist Church (UMC). The reason for their leave is the progressive course the…
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Eastern Europe
Estonia legalises same-sex marriage
Estonia’s parliament on Tuesday opened marriage to gay couples. Although taboo in the former Eastern Bloc, gay marriage is rising. The Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas is proud of her country. “We're building a society where everyone's rights are respected, and people can love freely”, she stated on Twitter after…
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Eastern Europe
Estonia considers moving towards same-sex marriage
Estonia might become the first post-Soviet Union country that has same-sex marriage. Prime Minister Kaja Kallas has tabled a bill to legislate marriage for gay couples. The parliament will debate the content of the bill in the coming weeks. The Riigikogu (parliament) passed the bill in the first reading. For…
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Eastern Europe
Gay marriage may soon become legal in Estonia
The new Estonian government does not include any conservative political party in the coalition. This might be the chance for the LGBT movement to push for the legalisation of same-sex marriage. Marriage for all is one of the major issues in coalition talks in Estonia, Politico reports. Prime Minister Kaja…
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Eastern Europe
Traugott Hahn, martyr of the Baltic church
His name is not known to most of the public. Still, Traugott Hahn is considered one of the most famous martyrs of the Baltic church. On January 14th 1919, communist Bolsheviks killed the Lutheran pastor from Estonia.The gifted Traugott Gotthilf Hahn was born on February 1st, 1875, as the eldest…
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Eastern Europe
Estonian Metropolitan distances himself from Kirill after political pressure
Estonia’s Minister of Internal Affairs has demanded that the Estonian Orthodox Church (EOC) disavow the Russian Patriarchate’s comments or risk getting denied special privileges. In reaction, Metropolitan Yevgeny, head of the Russian Orthodox Church in Estonia, complied and released a statement that condemns Kirill's stance on Russia's actions, according to…
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Eastern Europe
Government Estonia demands that Metropolitan breaks with Kirill
The Estonian Minister of Home Affairs ordered the Metropolitan Yevgeny, Primate of the Estonian Orthodox Church, to distance himself from the war-supporting Moscow Patriarchate. The Home Affairs Minister, Lauri Läänemets, said so in an interview with the national broadcaster ERR, as reported by Tass. The Minister said that he expected…
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Eastern Europe
Museum director elected as Estonian president
Alar Karis, currently the head of the Estonian National Museum, will become the next president of Estonia. The 62-year-old received 72 out of 101 votes and passed the 68 votes hurdle. The vote took place on Thursday September 2th as a secret ballot in the Riigikogu, the Estonian parliament. Karis…