Visiting Researcher's Guide - EURAXESS Estonia

9.4 Religion and churches
LEISURE AND PLEASURE
Estonians are fond of talking about their Lutheran work habits. This is
largely the only religion-related topic that reaches your ear. In predominantly
Protestant (since the early 16th century) Estonia, the church is separated
from the state, and religious topics only emerge at Christmas and Easter.
Confessional belonging is strictly everybody’s own business. Representatives
of the state, however, consider it necessary to appear in church from time
to time, and the church diligently voices opinions on social matters. The
most heated religious debates focus on whether or not religion should be a
compulsory subject in the school curriculum.
The mass Christianisation of Estonians began in the 13 th century, although
the previous pagan beliefs persisted until the 17 th century. Alongside Christian
holidays there are also a number of “pagan” traditions alive today; such as
bonfires in May and on Midsummer’s Eve.
The majority of religiously active people belong to the Estonian Evangelical
Lutheran Church or the Orthodox Church. The Orthodox Church in Estonia
has two separate branches: the Russian-language church subordinated to
Moscow and the Estonian-language church subordinated to Constantinople.
Visitors to Tallinn will immediately notice the Orthodox presence here:
the cathedral from the period of Russification (the end of the 19 th century)
dominates Toompea hill in the Old Town. By Lake Peipsi, the archaic
community of Old Believers has sheltered since the Russian reformation.
The most common time for Sunday services is 10 o’clock, but in some
congregations services begin at 11 or 12. You should contact a congregation
directly if you wish to become a member.
Information on churches in Tallinn can be found at the Tourist web portal
http://www.tourism.tallinn.ee/
Information on churches in Tartu can be found at the Tourist web portal
http://www.visittartu.com/1443/
TAAVI GREPP kERlY IlVEs
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