Patriarch Filaret Has Died
Patriarch Filaret (secular name Mykhailo Antonovych Denysenko), the Patriarch of Kyiv and All Rus-Ukraine, passed away on March 20, 2023, at the age of 98. He had been hospitalized in Kyiv on March 9, 2023, due to a decline in his health. From 1995 to 2018, he served as Patriarch of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kyiv Patriarchate (UOC-KP), and from December 15, 2018, held the title of Honorary Patriarch of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU). In 2019, he was awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine. His death marks the end of an era for a towering and often controversial figure in modern Ukrainian religious and national life.
Life and Work
Mykhailo Denysenko was born on January 23, 1929, in the village of Blahodatne in the Donetsk region. His father, Anton Denysenko, was killed on September 24, 1943, during the Battle of the Dnipro. On January 1, 1950, Mykhailo Denysenko took monastic vows under the name Filaret. In 1997, he was excommunicated by the Russian Orthodox Church, but on October 11, 2018, the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople declared that excommunication invalid. Subsequently, at the Unification Council on December 15, 2018, Metropolitan Epiphanius (Serhii Dumenko) was elected as the first primate of the newly established Orthodox Church of Ukraine, with his official enthronement taking place on February 3, 2019.
Filaret was renowned for his staunch advocacy of Ukrainian identity and ecclesiastical independence. He once remarked:
'The land of Donetsk is Ukrainian. If you want to learn about Donbas, you should travel not through the cities or the mines, but through the villages—and you will hear the Ukrainian language. It has been there since time immemorial, from the days when people first settled there.'
He also spoke frequently about the value of peace, noting:
'I remember well what war is. War is there now, in Donbas, where my homeland is. My native village is occupied by Russia. I know how precious peace is.'
He expressed unwavering faith in Ukraine's victory: 'How will the war end? With our victory. One must believe in this firmly. There is no doubt. Because truth is with us. And where there is truth, there is God. And where there is God, there is victory. Always.' He emphasized the church's role in shaping patriotic sentiment: 'Why did Crimea fall away? Temporarily, but it fell. Because the church there was Moscow's, while the Ukrainian Church of the Kyiv Patriarchate in Crimea was weak.'
Patriarch Filaret personally translated or oversaw the translation of more than 180 volumes of liturgical, patristic, and spiritual literature. His contribution to the development of the Ukrainian church and society will be remembered by many. As he stated: 'As Christians, we must be peacemakers, for God commanded us so. We must not desire war.'
The passing of Patriarch Filaret is a significant event for Ukrainian society, as he left a profound mark on the history of the Orthodox Church in Ukraine and on matters of national identity. His lifelong work was dedicated to asserting the independence of the Ukrainian church, particularly in the context of its conflict with the Moscow Patriarchate. Filaret's legacy, his views on faith and peace, have influenced not only religious life but also political and social processes in the country, making this a loss felt deeply not just by the faithful, but by the entire Ukrainian nation.
The passing of Patriarch Filaret marks a significant moment in the history of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and the national identity of Ukraine. As a figure who profoundly influenced the religious landscape, his legacy is complex and multifaceted. To explore more about his life and the impact of his tenure, you can read about the recent developments surrounding his death and what it means for the future of the church and the nation.