Patriarch Filaret. Photo: wikimedia
Patriarch Filaret of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine died at the age of 98, according to Metropolitan Yevstratiy Zorya of Bila Tserkva and OCU Primate Metropolitan Epifaniy.
"Today, in my heart, as in the hearts of many Ukrainians, there is deep sorrow and grief, for today the earthly journey of His Holiness Patriarch Filaret has come to an end," the head of the OCU wrote.
According to Zorya, the clergyman died from complications caused by an exacerbation of an acute chronic illness. It was not specified which illness it was.
Filaret is regarded as one of the key figures in the formation of an autocephalous (independent) Orthodox Church in Ukraine.
After Ukraine declared independence in 1991, Filaret convened the All-Ukrainian Council, which proclaimed the independence of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church from the Moscow Patriarchate. From 1995 to 2018, he led the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kyiv Patriarchate, which was not recognized by the world’s Orthodox churches.
In December 2018, the canonically recognized Orthodox Church of Ukraine was established, and Metropolitan Epifaniy became its primate. Filaret was proclaimed the OCU’s spiritual mentor and head of the Kyiv diocese, and was also given the title of honorary patriarch.
In the following years, Filaret came into conflict with the OCU hierarchy and was stripped of the right to lead the Kyiv diocese.
The Russian Orthodox Church considers Ukraine its canonical territory and does not recognize the independent Orthodox Church of Ukraine, calling it schismatic. The Moscow Patriarchate defrocked Filaret.