Patriarch Filaret of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine Dies
Patriarch Filaret. Photo: wikimedia.Patriarch Filaret of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine has died at the age of 98, as reported by Metropolitan Evstratiy Zorya of Bila Tserkva and the head of the OCU, Metropolitan Epiphanius. 'Today, in my heart, as in the hearts of many Ukrainians, there is deep sorrow and sadness, because today the earthly journey of His Holiness Patriarch Filaret has ended,' wrote the head of the OCU. Zorya said that the clergyman died from complications caused by an exacerbation of an acute chronic illness, which was not specified. Filaret is considered one of the key figures in the establishment of an autocephalous (independent) Orthodox Church in Ukraine. After the proclamation of Ukraine's independence in 1991, Filaret convened an All-Ukrainian council that proclaimed the independence of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church from the Moscow Patriarchate. From 1995 to 2018, Filaret headed the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kyiv Patriarchate, which was not recognized by world Orthodox churches. In December 2018, the canonically recognized Orthodox Church of Ukraine was established, with Metropolitan Epiphanius becoming its primate. Filaret was proclaimed the spiritual mentor of the OCU and the primate of the Kyiv diocese, and also received the title of honorary patriarch. In the following years, Filaret clashed with the leadership of the OCU and was stripped of his right to lead the Kyiv diocese. The ROC considers Ukraine its canonical territory and does not recognize the independent Orthodox Church of Ukraine, considering it schismatic. The Moscow Patriarchate deprived Filaret of his clerical rank.
