Patriarch Filaret Memorial Liturgy Held at Kyiv's St. Volodymyr's Cathedral

Memorial Service for Patriarch Filaret

According to Главком: A memorial Divine Liturgy for Patriarch Filaret was conducted at the St. Volodymyr's Cathedral in Kyiv on March 28, 2026. The service was led by His Beatitude Metropolitan Epiphanius of Kyiv and All Ukraine. The liturgy was attended by numerous hierarchs of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU), demonstrating the profound respect held for the late Patriarch's memory. This gathering underscored the deep impact of his leadership on the Ukrainian Orthodox community.

Patriarch Filaret, a pivotal figure in modern Ukrainian Orthodoxy, passed away following a severe illness. He had been hospitalized on March 9, 2026, due to a decline in his health. His funeral took place on March 22, 2026, and he was laid to rest within the St. Volodymyr's Cathedral, the same site where the memorial service was later held.

Hierarchs Participating in the Service

The following hierarchs concelebrated the liturgy with the Primate of the OCU:

• Metropolitan Dmytro of Lviv and Sokal
• Metropolitan Ilarion of Rivne and Ostroh
• Metropolitan Yevstratiy of Bila Tserkva
• Metropolitan Simeon of Dnipro and Sicheslav
• Archbishop Lavrentiy of Luhansk and Starobilsk
• Archbishop Volodymyr of Zhytomyr and Polissia
• Archbishop Tykhon of Ternopil and Buchach
• Archbishop Ahapit of Vyshhorod
• Bishop Fotiy of Zaporizhzhia and Melitopol
• Bishop Paisiy of Zhytomyr and Ovruch
• Bishop Yefrem of Vasylkiv
• Bishop Arseniy of Bohuslav
• Bishop Avraamiy of Boryspil
• Archpriest Borys Tabachek (Cathedral Rector)

This event marked a significant moment for Ukraine's Orthodox community, highlighting Patriarch Filaret's importance in the development of the national church.

Patriarch Filaret left a substantial legacy in the history of Ukrainian Orthodoxy, and his contribution to the establishment and growth of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine is widely recognized. His tenure saw the church navigate numerous challenges, including matters of autocephaly and inter-confessional relations. The memorial liturgy served not only as a farewell to a leader but also as a moment to honor his achievements and unite the Orthodox community around shared values and traditions.

The recent memorial service was a poignant reminder of the late Patriarch Filaret's enduring influence on the Orthodox Church in Ukraine. To understand the full significance of his legacy and the events leading to his final resting place, readers can explore how the arrangements for his burial at St. Volodymyr's Cathedral unfolded, marking a pivotal chapter in the history of Ukrainian Orthodoxy.