Estonian Lutherans, Orthodox sign joint statement

H/T: OBL

(ERR) - The Estonian Apostolic Orthodox Church and the Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church are signing a joint statement on their shared theological beliefs today.

The document stresses the importance of worship in people's lives, ETV reported.

It is the first such appeal to be made by the two churches, which have held bilateral meetings every year since 2006. In their current talks, the churches are focusing on the issue of bioethics and organ donation.

The Lutheran Church is the largest church in Estonia and also has an autonomous branch abroad that traces its roots back to the Soviet era, when organized religion was prohibited.

The Orthodox Church, in which Estonian is the official language, is associated with the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople. It is separate from the Estonian Orthodox Church of Moscow Patriarchate, where the official language is Russian.