On Wednesday, 14 January, the feast day of Saint Platon of Estonia, the first martyr of the Orthodox Church of Estonia, Archimandrite Andreas (Andres) Noorhani was ordained Bishop of Tartu during the Divine Liturgy at the Cathedral of the Transfiguration in Tallinn.

The episcopal ordination was presided over by Metropolitan Stephanos, Metropolitan of Tallinn and All Estonia, together with several co-consecrating bishops from Orthodox Churches representing various countries, underscoring the international and ecclesial significance of the event.

The liturgical celebration was attended by numerous clergy and faithful, as well as ecumenical guests. Among them was Elia, Archbisho of Helsinki and all Finland, Gregory, Metropolitan of Ankara, representing Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, Gregory, Bishop of Messaoria, representing Archbishop George of Cyprus, Urmas Viilma, Archbishop of the Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church and President of the Estonian Council of Churches. Also present were Philippe Jourdan, Bishop of Tallinn of the Roman Catholic Church, Erki Tamm, Vice-President of the Estonian Council of Churches, Ove Sander, Bishop of the North Estonian Diocese, Vilve Oras, Executive Secretary of the Council, and Andres Põder, Archbishop Emeritus of the Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church.

At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, Archbishop Viilma extended congratulations to the newly ordained Bishop Andreas on behalf of both the Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church and the Estonian Council of Churches. In his response, Bishop Andreas recalled his earlier years as an active member of the Lutheran Otepää St. Mary’s Parish, where he once served as chairman of the parish council and as a delegate to the Church Assembly, highlighting his personal journey within Estonia’s broader Christian tradition.

The ordination of the new Bishop of Tartu represents a significant milestone for the Estonian Apostolic Orthodox Church, strengthening its pastoral ministry and reaffirming the spirit of cooperation and mutual respect among Christian communities in Estonia.

Photographs: Aleksander Sarapik, Erki Tamm, and Archbishop Viilma’s archival images