A senior adviser to Patriarch Kirill of Moscow has condemned proposals by Estonian politicians to revoke the Estonian Orthodox Christian Church’s right to use Tallinn’s Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, calling the initiative a sign of disrespect toward the religious feelings of believers.

Archpriest Nikolai Balashov, an adviser to the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus’, said in comments to RIA Novosti that the cathedral has faced repeated attempts over the past century to close, demolish, or repurpose the landmark.

Balashov recalled that calls to demolish the cathedral were first made in 1924 to make way for a proposed "Pantheon of Independence." Similar proposals resurfaced in 1928, when some members of the Estonian parliament described the cathedral as a symbol of "Russian violence." During the Nazi occupation of Estonia in 1942, the cathedral was closed by German authorities, and demolition plans were again discussed.

According to Balashov, the cathedral reopened after Estonia was liberated, but in 1961 Soviet authorities planned to convert it into a planetarium. Those plans were ultimately prevented through the efforts of the future Patriarch Alexy II, who at the time served as the Bishop of Tallinn and Estonia.

The comments came after Estonian Interior Minister Igor Taro proposed terminating the agreement under which the City of Tallinn grants the Estonian Orthodox Christian Church free use of the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral. Estonia's public broadcaster ERR reported that Tallinn city officials said current legislation does not provide legal grounds for the municipality to unilaterally cancel the agreement.

Deputy Mayor Tiit Terik stated that as long as the Church continues to operate lawfully, the city is obligated to honor its existing agreements. Meanwhile, the legality of the city's earlier termination of the lease for the Church's administrative offices is currently being reviewed by a court.

The future of the cathedral has become the subject of growing public debate in recent weeks. Some proposals have suggested selling the building, converting it into a museum, or assigning it a different function. However, many architects and historians have opposed such ideas, emphasizing the cathedral's historical, architectural, and cultural significance.

Consecrated in 1900, Alexander Nevsky Cathedral is the largest Orthodox church in Tallinn. It is designated as a cultural monument of Estonia and serves as the cathedral of the Estonian Orthodox Christian Church.

The discussion over the cathedral's future comes amid broader debate surrounding the Estonian Orthodox Christian Church itself. Following amendments to Estonia's Churches and Congregations Act, religious organizations are required to bring their statutes into compliance with updated legal requirements. Estonian authorities have said the changes are intended to address national security concerns, while Church representatives argue that their legal rights and freedom of religion must be protected.