The abbess of Estonia’s Pühtitsa Dormition Monastery, Mother Filareta (Kalacheva), has addressed a letter to Estonia’s Minister of Internal Affairs, Lauri Läänemets, in response to demands that the monastery leave the jurisdiction of the Moscow Patriarchate. The letter, published on the monastery's website, explains that the monastery cannot unilaterally change its status, as such decisions must be based on church canon law and made collegially.

The statement highlights that the monastic vows of chastity, obedience, and poverty prevent arbitrary changes to the sisters' way of life. The monastery’s charter prohibits changing jurisdiction without the involvement of church leadership. Its history shows that any status changes occurred only in response to significant historical and state shifts.

"The monastery maintains its previously expressed view that it does not have the authority or right to independently petition the Patriarch to revoke stavropegia and transfer the Pühtitsa Dormition Stavropegial Convent to the jurisdiction of Constantinople," wrote Mother Filareta.

Founded in 1891, Pühtitsa Monastery has held stavropegial status, meaning it is directly subordinate to the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, since 1990. It has never closed throughout its history. The abbess expressed hope that Estonian authorities will consider the monastery’s adherence to canonical laws and its longstanding peaceful presence in Estonia.

For months, Estonian authorities have urged the autonomous Estonian Orthodox Church under the Moscow Patriarchate to amend its charter and sever ties with the Russian Orthodox Church. Recently, Minister Läänemets proposed legislation that would allow the Estonian Orthodox Church to be banned. Speaking in parliament, the minister argued that the Russian Orthodox Church is used by the Russian state as a tool of influence, both domestically and internationally, including in Estonia.