The Honorary Patriarch of Kyiv and all Rus-Ukraine Filaret has drafted a spiritual will in which he outlined his vision for the future of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and his own directives after death. In particular, he calls on the clergy to end discord and unite the Ukrainian Orthodoxy into one independent church, free from Moscow.
- Filaret urges the unification of different branches of Ukrainian Orthodoxy;
- Emphasizes that the council should take place in Kyiv as the spiritual center of the Ukrainian state;
- Confirms his election in 1995 as the head of the Kyiv Patriarchate and calls to preserve this patriarchate;
- Orders that after his death, his funeral be conducted in the Volodymyr Cathedral in Kyiv by the bishops of the Kyiv Patriarchate;
- Appeals to Ukrainians to support the faith and independence of the Church.
Ceremony at the Volodymyr Cathedral
Personally signed by Filaret, the document is of great significance for the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. The recent celebration is a preparation for the 30th anniversary of the Patriarch’s enthronement, which will take place on October 22.
During the solemn liturgy, Patriarch Filaret, bishops, and clergy of the Kyiv Patriarchate participated, once again emphasizing the importance of unity and peaceful coexistence in Ukrainian Orthodoxy.