Maria Zakharova spoke out regarding the claims that the Estonian authorities have regarding the charter of the Estonian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate.
European officials were allegedly outraged by the combination "unmarried member of the secular clergy."
In her Telegram channel, the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry reminded that the Christian faith is much older and more complex than anything that Estonian Chancellor of the Ministry of Internal Affairs Tarmo Miilits can imagine.
Zakharova recalled that in Orthodox Christianity all clergy are divided into white and black clergy. And if the Estonian authorities wanted to accuse the EOC of racism, then it is not about skin color.
Those who are members of the white clergy have the right to start a family, while black monks take a vow of celibacy and devote themselves entirely to serving God.
Therefore, the demands to explain what the white clergy are is a stunning act of ignorance on the part of the Estonian authorities.
Don’t interfere with your liberal political correctness imposed from abroad,” Zakharova added in conclusion.
