His Grace Bishop Elias of Tartu of the Autonomous Church of Estonia passed away on the afternoon of 17 December 2024, after a long and serious illness.

Bishop Elias (baptised as Otto Oyarpev) was born on 11 May 1977 in Tartu. He graduated from the city’s Theological School in 2003. He completed postgraduate studies at the Universities of Perugia, St. Petersburg, Voronezh and Riga. On 28 July 2006, he was ordained a Deacon, on 15 April 2007 a Presbyter, and on 9 October 2008 he was tonsured an Archimandrite by His Eminence Metropolitan Stephanos of Tallinn and All Estonia. He served successively in the parishes of St. Alexius in the city of Karksi-Nuia, the Ascension of the Lord in Arussaare and the Dormition of the Theotokos in Tuhalaane. On 12 June 2008, he was elected Bishop and on 10 January 2009, he was consecrated by His Eminence Metropolitan Stephanos of Tallinn and All Estonia.

The Funeral Service for the late Bishop of Tartu, His Grace Bishop Elias, will be held on Friday, 2- December 2024, at the Cathedral of the Dormition of the Theotokos in Tartu.

Until the election of a new Bishop of Tartu, the duties of the Vicar will be assumed by His Eminence Metropolitan Stephanos of Tallinn and All Estonia.