Patriarch Filaret of Kyiv passed away at the age of 98: reaction from politicians

The Death of the Primate

According to Главком: Patriarch Filaret of Kyiv and all Rus-Ukraine (in the world Mykhailo Antonovych Denysenko) passed away on March 20, 2023. He was 97 years old. He was hospitalized in one of the Kyiv hospitals on March 9 due to health deterioration, where he passed away. The figure of Patriarch Filaret occupies a special place in the recent history of Ukrainian Orthodoxy, and his path was closely linked to the processes of statehood formation.

The Patriarch, who celebrated his 97th birthday on January 23, 2026, left behind not only a memory of his activities but also an officially composed spiritual will. This document became a symbol of his dedication to church service. He was not just a religious figure, but also a consistent defender of the idea of an independent Ukrainian church.

Reaction from the Political Establishment

The news of the primate's death triggered a flood of condolences from Ukrainian politicians on social media. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote:

“This is a huge loss for all Ukrainians. He was a person of immense spiritual strength and one of the most steadfast defenders of the Ukrainian church, independence, and statehood. The people of Ukraine will always honor his contribution to the creation of a local church.”

The head of state also added: “We remember how Patriarch Filaret taught us to unite around the idea of a strong, independent Ukraine. Eternal Kingdom!”

• Leader of the Batkivshchyna party Yulia Tymoshenko paid her respects, noting: “This was the kind of person who could change a person's whole life in just one meeting. Eternal memory to you, great Man. Eternal peace.”
• Ukrainian politician Oleksandr Kachura said: “This was a man of immense inner strength and principles. He left behind not only history but also clear guidelines – responsibility and loyalty to faith, serving his people.”
• Andrii Illienko shared memories: “I had the honor of being in the presence of His Holiness several times. I will always remember these moments. Eternal Kingdom to the patriarch.”
• Commenting on Filaret's legacy, Yurii Kostenko stated: “Just as the crucifixion of Christ created the Christian world, so too this earthly cross, which Filaret carried throughout his life, and with which he now stands before the Almighty, will finally open the path to spiritual unity for Ukrainians and the creation of a united Local Orthodox Church of Ukraine of the Kyiv Patriarchate.”

The departure of Patriarch Filaret is a significant loss for Ukraine. His contribution to the development of the church and society will remain in the memory of many generations. His activities largely defined the path to the autocephaly of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and its separation from the Moscow Patriarchate. In the current conditions, this topic remains particularly relevant for a part of Ukrainian society. The widespread condolences from politicians emphasize the role that spiritual leaders play in shaping national self-awareness and consolidation.

The death of the Patriarch marks the end of an entire era in the religious life of Ukraine and highlights the significance of spiritual leadership during periods of difficult historical challenges.

The death of Patriarch Filaret was a significant event not only for believers but for the entire country. His influence on the development of the Ukrainian church and public life is hard to overestimate. More details about the life and legacy of this outstanding religious figure can be found in our article about the last days of Patriarch Filaret.