Patriarch Filaret of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (Mykhailo Denysenko) has passed away at the age of 98. His death was confirmed by Metropolitan Epiphanius of Kyiv and all Ukraine. This is reported by UNIAN.
Patriarch Filaret's death: reaction from the OCU and Epiphanius' words
The head of the OCU stated that the news of the spiritual leader's death was a great pain for Ukrainians.
«Today there is a deep sorrow and grief in my heart, as well as in the hearts of many Ukrainians,» — noted Epiphanius.
He urged believers to pray for the repose of the patriarch's soul and expressed condolences to the family. According to him, Filaret's spiritual legacy will remain important for the Ukrainian church.
Among the key instructions left by the patriarch:
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the unity of Ukrainian Orthodoxy around the Kyiv throne
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the importance of the church's conciliarity
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service to God and the Ukrainian people
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humility before God's will.
Biography of Patriarch Filaret: role in the creation of the OCU
Filaret was one of the key figures in the establishment of an independent Ukrainian church. After Ukraine gained independence, he actively advocated for autocephaly and church independence.
Key stages of his activities:
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headed the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kyiv Patriarchate
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was the initiator of the struggle for the church's independence from Moscow
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in 2018, after the Unification Council, became the honorary patriarch of the OCU
It is worth noting that at the beginning of March he was hospitalized in a Kyiv hospital due to a deterioration in health. The doctors provided the necessary assistance, but they were unable to save him.
Filaret left behind a significant spiritual and social legacy. His activities became an important part of the history of the formation of the autocephalous Ukrainian church, and according to the clergy, his memory will be preserved by believers for many years.