Category:Estonia

From 4 Enoch: : The Online Encyclopedia of Second Temple Judaism, and Christian and Islamic Origins
Jump to navigation Jump to search


Estonia is a country in Eastern Europe.

Overview

Jews, Christians, and Muslims in Estonia

Christianity spread in Estonia only in the Middle Ages. Due to its geographical location, Estonia was influenced by, and divided among, Roman Catholics, Lutherans and Orthodox Russians.

The first Jewish colony was established in Piltene in 1571, but it was only in the 18th century that Estonia had a significant Jewish presence. In spite of periods of persecution Jews maintained a very strong and influential presence in Latvian society until the Holocaust. Riga was the major center of Jewish life in Estonia.

The first groups of Muslims settled in Estonia in the 19th century, their first congregation being officially recognized by the government in 1902.

Contemporary times

Today, the majority of Estonian population (60%) are Christians, almost equally divided among Roman Catholics, Lutherans and Orthodox Russians.

Estonian Jews, who before WW2 were about 5% of the entire population, were almost entirely exterminated during the Holocaust; only 6,000 Jews today live in Estonia.

A few thousand Muslims also live in Estonia.

In Depth

See also: Estonian -- Estonian language

External links

Pages in category "Estonia"

The following 6 pages are in this category, out of 6 total.