Estonia, officially the Republic of Estonia (Estonian: Eesti or Eesti Vabariik) is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by Finland across the Gulf of Finland, to the west by Sweden across the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia (343 km), and to the east by the Russian Federation (338,6 km). The territory of Estonia covers 45,227 km² and is influenced by a temperate seasonal climate.

The Estonians are a Finnic people closely related to the Finns, with the Estonian language sharing many similarities to Finnish. The modern name of Estonia is thought to originate from the Roman historian Tacitus, who in his book Germania (ca. AD 98) described a people called the Aestii. Similarly, ancient Scandinavian sagas refer to a land called Eistland, close to the German term Estland for the country. Early Latin and other ancient versions of the name are Estia and Hestia. Until the late 1930s, the name was often written as Esthonia in most English speaking countries.

Estonia is a democratic parliamentary republic and is divided into fifteen counties. The capital and largest city is Tallinn. With a population of only 1.4 million, it is one of the least-populous members of the European Union. Estonia was a member of the League of Nations from 22 September 1921, has been a member of the United Nations since 17 September 1991, of the European Union since 1 May 2004[9] and of NATO since 29 March 2004. Estonia has also signed the Kyoto protocol.

The settlement of modern day Estonia began around 8500 BC, immediately after the Ice Age. Over the centuries, the Estonians were subjected to Danish, Teutonic, Swedish and Russian rule. Foreign rule in Estonia began in 1227. In the aftermath the Livonian Crusade the area was conquered by Danes and Germans. From 1228–1562, parts or most of Estonia were incorporated into a crusader state Terra Mariana, that became part of the Ordensstaat, and after it's decline was formed the Livonian Confederation. During the era economic activities centered around the Hanseatic League. In the 1500s Estonia passed to Swedish rule, under which it remained until 1721, when it was ceded to the Russian Empire. The Estophile Enlightenment Period (1750-1840) led to a national awakening in the mid-19th century. In 1918 the Estonian Declaration of Independence was issued, to be followed by the Estonian War of Independence (1918-1920), which resulted in the Tartu Peace Treaty recognizing Estonian independence in perpetuity. During World War II, Estonia was occupied and annexed first by the Soviet Union and subsequently by the Third Reich, only to be re-occupied by the Soviet Union in 1944.

Estonia regained its independence on 20 August 1991. It has since embarked on a rapid program of social and economic reform. Today, the country has gained recognition for its economic freedom, its adaptation of new technologies and as one of the world's fastest growing economies.


Ethnic and cultural diversity

Tolerance and democracy are illustrated by the Law on the Cultural Autonomy for National Minorities, passed already in 1925, which was not only the first in Europe at the time but also very progressive. Prior to World War II, Estonia was a relatively homogeneous society – ethnic Estonians constituted 88% of the population, with national minorities constituting the remaining 12%. The largest minority groups in 1934 were Russians, Germans, Swedes, Latvians, Jews, Poles, Finns and Ingrians. Cultural autonomies could be granted to minorities numbering more than 3,000 people with longstanding ties to the Republic of Estonia. Prior to the Soviet occupation, the Germans and Jewish minorities managed to elect a cultural council. The Law on Cultural Autonomy for National Minorities was reinstated in 1993.

Religion

According to the constitution there is a freedom of religion, no state church and that every person has the right to privacy of belief and religion. Although Estonia has one of the highest level of irreligious individuals in the world, with over 76% of the population stating no specific religious affiliation[148], the dominant religion in the country is Evangelical Lutheranism. The dominant religions in Estonia were Taara (Tharapita) and maausk (earth religion), until the Christianization by the Teutonic Knights in late 13th century. During the Reformation, Lutheranism spread, and the church was officially established in Estonia in 1686. Still, Estonians generally tend not to be very religious, because religion through the nineteenth century was associated with German feudal rule.

The second most populous religious group is the Eastern Orthodox, especially among the Russian minority. Historically there has been also another dominant minority religion, Russian Old-believers near Lake Peipus area in Tartu County. In 2000 there were about 152,000 Lutherans, 143,000 Orthodoxies, 5,000 Catholics and nearly 2,000 Taaras in Estonia. In addition there were around 68,000 people who stated themselves as atheists.

(modern) Christianity in Estonia

CITYCHURC INTEL
Pastor Paul & Ella Armand
P.O.Box 1425
Tallinn
Estonia
11902
Estonia
+372 55603071

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After half a century of Soviet domination, Estonia represents one of the most exciting missionary fields. In 1991, three men - two from Canada and one from Australia - returned to their homeland of Estonia with a burden to plant churches. Today over 70 Pentecostal churches have been planed in Estonia, and over 100 young people have been trained for the ministry in our Bible college. Through these churches, the PAOC is active in a number of effective ministries that touch the communities of Estonia which include prison work, a rehabilitaion center, military chaplaincy, a radio broadcast and youth outreach. The ultimate goal or vision is to plant a church in every community of the country.
http://www.paoc.org/missions/missionaries.aspx?cID=14
http://www.paoc.org/missions/missionaries.aspx?mID=46