A Patriarch's Secret Wife: Controversial Memoir Sparks Outrage at Funeral

Patriarch Filaret's Funeral

According to Главком: The funeral of Patriarch Filaret of Kyiv and All Rus-Ukraine was held at the St. Volodymyr's Cathedral on March 22, 2026. The 97-year-old religious leader had passed away following his hospitalization in Kyiv on March 9. His death marked the end of a significant chapter in Ukrainian Orthodoxy. In the immediate aftermath, a publication by Serafima Shevchyk, the abbess of the Svyato-Arkhangelo-Mykhailivskyi Women's Monastery of the Moscow Church in Ukraine, caused public outrage by revealing details of Filaret's personal life.

Revelations and Reaction

Serafima Shevchyk's post, which included a video and text titled 'Filaret and His Wife,' disclosed that the Patriarch's secular name was Mykhailo Denysenko. She stated he studied at the Odesa Seminary and was married to a woman named Yevheniia Rodionova, who worked at the exarchate. Shevchyk also noted that a dacha in Pliuty was officially registered as a retreat house for the exarchate's clergy.

Among the most attention-grabbing statements was a remark attributed to Filaret himself:

“For everyone, I am a monk, but for the authorities-a married man.”

According to Shevchyk, this phrase illustrates the complexity of his private life. It is known that Filaret also left a spiritual testament before his death.

The head of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, His Beatitude Metropolitan Epifaniy, is also likely to have acknowledged Filaret's significance in the history of Ukrainian Orthodoxy. The Patriarch's funeral was a major event not only for his followers but for the entire Orthodox community in Ukraine.

Filaret's passing, as a key figure in the history of Ukrainian Orthodoxy, signifies the end of an era for many believers. His contribution to the development of the church and its independence from the Moscow Patriarchate is unlikely to be forgotten. In light of recent events, Serafima Shevchyk's publication has ignited debates about Filaret's personal life, demonstrating how complex and contentious the relationship between clergy and society can be. The controversy highlights the ongoing tensions within Eastern Orthodoxy regarding church independence and clerical celibacy.

The intricate details surrounding Patriarch Filaret's life and legacy extend beyond the recent revelations. For those interested in understanding the full impact of his contributions and the circumstances of his passing, further information about his funeral arrangements and the contents of his spiritual will can be found in our detailed report on the funeral schedule and will details.