A senior US diplomat recognized Filaret’s lifelong service and its profound impact on Ukraine’s spiritual identity during pivotal historical moments. The brief statement aims to comfort believers and underline international sympathy for Ukraine as the nation holds public mourning and farewell rituals.
The United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed condolences following the death of the Honorary Patriarch of Kyiv and All Rus-Ukraine Filaret.
In a statement released on March 21, Rubio noted that the United States mourns the loss of His Holiness Patriarch Filaret and expressed sincere condolences to the people of Ukraine and to all believers of the Ukrainian Orthodox community.
According to the secretary, Filaret’s life devoted to service played an important role in shaping Ukraine’s spiritual identity at decisive moments in its history.
Mourning the loss of His Holiness Patriarch Filaret
– Marco Rubio
Reaction in Ukraine and the Context of Events
On March 20, in a telephone conversation with Metropolitan Epiphanius of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU), Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed deep condolences regarding the passing of Patriarch Filaret. The conversation noted the late hierarch’s special contribution to affirming Ukraine’s spiritual independence and his unwavering support for the Ukrainian people’s fight against Russian aggression.
The conversation noted the late hierarch’s special contribution to affirming Ukraine’s spiritual independence, and his unwavering support for the Ukrainian people’s fight against Russian aggression
– Orthodox Church of Ukraine
At noon on March 20, the Orthodox Church of Ukraine announced that Patriarch Filaret had died. That evening, a farewell to the late Honorary Patriarch of Kyiv and All Rus-Ukraine Filaret began at Kyiv’s St. Michael’s Golden-Domed Monastery. According to the Orthodox Church of Ukraine’s website, by the early hours of Sunday, March 22, the Gospel would be read over the coffin and memorial prayers would be offered.
On March 9, the Orthodox Church of Ukraine urged its faithful to pray for the health of Patriarch Filaret, announcing his hospitalization and deteriorating health.
The Ukrainian Orthodox hierarch Filaret (in peace Mykhailo Denysenko) was born on January 23, 1929. For many years, from October 1995, he led the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kyiv Patriarchate. In December 2018, the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, which received a tomos from the Ecumenical Patriarch, named Filaret its Honorary Patriarch.
In June 2022, shortly after the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Honorary Patriarch of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU) Filaret called for a unifying council of the three branches of Ukrainian Orthodoxy, referring to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate), the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, and the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kyiv Patriarchate.
Filaret left a significant mark on Ukraine’s religious life, and his activity and position in church affairs continue to influence the contemporary Orthodox context in the country.
His legacy continues to influence church life and Ukraine’s cultural order, leaving a mark on the development of Orthodoxy and interconfessional processes in the country.