Joining the Orthodox Church of Ukraine
On March 23, 2023, the St. Volodymyr's Cathedral transitioned from the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kyiv Patriarchate (UOC-KP) to the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU). The ceremony was attended by Metropolitan Epifaniy of Kyiv and All Ukraine, who conducted a memorial service at the tomb of Patriarch Filaret within the cathedral. Also present were Metropolitan Fedir of Poltava and Kremenchuk, the cathedral's clergy, invited clergy, and relatives of the late patriarch.
During the event, Metropolitan Epifaniy met with the cathedral's dean, Archpriest Borys Tabachek, and other clergy. The clerics received official decrees authorizing them to continue their ministry within the OCU religious community. This move follows decisions made by the Local Council of the UOC-KP and the Unification Council held at St. Sophia Cathedral on December 15, 2018. This transition is part of a broader, ongoing realignment within Ukrainian Orthodoxy following Russia's full-scale invasion.
The Legacy of Patriarch Filaret
In a related decision from December 2019, the Holy Synod of the OCU granted Patriarch Filaret lifetime residence and use of the building complex at 36 Chykalenka Street. He was also given the right to conduct services at Kyiv's St. Volodymyr's Cathedral for the rest of his life. This occurred alongside the state's liquidation of the religious organization 'Kyiv Patriarchate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kyiv Patriarchate'. The Unification Council on July 27, 2019, had already led to the absorption of the UOC-KP into the newly formed OCU.
Patriarch Filaret, who passed away on March 20, 2023, after a severe illness, was laid to rest inside the St. Volodymyr's Cathedral. He had led services there for the last 50 years, cementing the cathedral's significance not only to his memory but to Ukrainian Orthodoxy as a whole.
The transfer of St. Volodymyr's Cathedral to the OCU marks a pivotal moment in Ukraine's religious landscape. It symbolizes the continued unification of Orthodox believers under a single Ukrainian patriarchate and reflects significant shifts in church structure and the enduring legacy of Patriarch Filaret, a central figure in modern Ukrainian Orthodoxy. These developments are likely to influence future dynamics within Ukraine's religious sphere and the relationships among different Orthodox communities in the country.
The recent transition of St. Volodymyr's Cathedral to the Orthodox Church of Ukraine marks a significant moment in the ongoing evolution of Ukrainian Orthodoxy. This shift is closely tied to the legacy of Patriarch Filaret, whose passing has raised questions about the future of the religious communities. To understand the implications of these changes, including the dissolution of the Kyiv Patriarchate, read more about the current state of religious organizations in Ukraine.