Estonia One of the smallest nations in Europe, with only one and a half million population, Estonia is also one of the most remarkable. A close neighbor of Finland and its language descended from ancient Finnic, Estonia has kept apart from the Slavic culture, although its people feel a great solidarity with the two other Baltic States through common history and suffering. One notable exception is that, like the Scandinavian countries, Estonia is a child of the Protestant Reformation. This only sharpened his determination to preach the Gospel, however, in a form pointedly relevant to the oppressed people he was addressing. In the early 1980s, some of his sermons seemed provocative to the point of foolhardiness.
Peace is very precious, because it is necessary for life.
To a Christian peace means a good and secure life, clean air and water, health and long life. This includes a democratic, independent homeland, freedom of conscience and religion. When the Estonians established their Popular Front in October 1988, the founders proclaimed in the press that the fight with religion was a relic of the past, that the obsolete Stalinist legislation must be changed, that Christians should actively promote holiness, patience, care for the old and the sick and inculcate moral values in the young. Later in the year, in mid-August, Estonia played host to the largest Christian youth festival ever to be held in the USSR, organized by the local churches. The opening rally took place in Tallinn's vast Oleviste Church.