In response to a joint invitation by the Autonomous Orthodox Church of Estonia and the President of the Republic of Estonia, His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew traveled to Tallinn, Estonia, on September 4, 2013, in order to preside over celebrations for the 90th anniversary since the declaration of the Estonian Church as Autonomous by the Mother Church of Constantinople.

Accompanying His All-Holiness during this official visit are their Eminences Geron Metropolitan Athanasios of Chalcedon and Metropolitan Methodios of Boston, V. Rev. Dr. Theodore Meimaris (Third Patriarchal Deacon), V. Rev. Dr. Makarios Griniezakis (Archimandrite of the Ecumenical Throne), and Mr. Symeon Frantzelas (Chief Attendant).

His All-Holiness was received at Tallinn Airport by the Secretary General (representing the Estonian Government) and His Eminence Metropolitan Stephanos of Tallinn and All Estonia, together with the members of the local Sacred Synod. Also present were the Ambassadors of Turkey, Greece and Finland, as well as many clergy and distinguished laity. The Ecumenical Patriarch greeted and thanked all those present at the airport for his warm reception and conveyed his blessing to the people of Estonia. He also responded to questions by local journalists.

In the afternoon of September 4, 2013, accompanied by His Eminence Metropolitan Stephanos of Estonia, His All-Holiness was interviewed by official state television channel ETV on various church and social matters. Later that evening, with his entourage, he attended a dinner offered by the Turkish Ambassador to Estonia, Her Excellency Ayşenur Alpaslan.

In the morning of September 5, 2013, His All-Holiness separately visited Mr. Toomas Hendrik Ilves (President of Estonia), Ms. Ene Ergma (President of the Estonian Parliament), Mr. Urmas Paet (Minister for Foreign Affairs), who hosted a lunch in His honour, and Mr. Andrus Ansip (Prime Minister of Estonia). Their Excellencies expressed their gratitude to the Patriarch and the Mother Church for the concern and support toward the Autonomous Orthodox Church of Estonia in the past and especially since 1996, with the restoration of its autonomy. In response, the Patriarch thanked the Estonian State for its assistance toward the local Autonomous Orthodox Church and for the invitation to officially revisit Estonia.

Following his meeting with the President of the Republic, together with the latter His All-Holiness offered a press conference, responding to questions, among others, about the two Orthodox jurisdictions in Estonia and the situation in Syria, expressing the hope that the G20 Summit commencing in St. Petersburg would take positive decisions on the conflict.

During his meeting with the President of the Estonian Parliament, when the matter of Syria arose, the Patriarch remarked that he, too, would respond to the appeal by the Pope and pray for peace there and in general in the Middle East on Saturday, although he has not ceased to do so since the beginning of the bloodshed there.

That evening, His All-Holiness and his entourage were guests at a formal dinner provided by His Excellency the President of Estonia at his summer residence.