Kyiv bids farewell to Patriarch Filaret: where and when he will be buried (photos)
21 March 07:45
A farewell ceremony has begun in Kyiv for Filaret (Denisenko), Honorary Patriarch of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, who passed away on March 20, 2026, at the age of 98.
According to the OCU, on the evening of March 20, the coffin containing the patriarch’s body was brought to St. Michael’s Golden-Domed Cathedral, where anyone wishing to do so can pay their respects to the distinguished church leader, reports "Komersant Ukrainian"
The viewing will last two days
The patriarch’s body was brought to the cathedral around 8:00 p.m. In front of the bell tower on St. Michael’s Square, the coffin was met and carried into the cathedral by numerous clergymen led by the Primate—His Beatitude Metropolitan Epiphanius.
Later, inside the cathedral, His Beatitude, together with Metropolitan Evstratiy of Bila Tserkva, Archbishop Agapit of Vyshhorod, Bishop Efrem of Vasylkiv, the monastic community, and the clergy, performed a liturgy for the late Patriarch Filaret.
The farewell service will continue:
- on the evening of March 20;
- throughout the day on March 21;
- until the morning of March 22.
During this time, believers and all those who wish to do so may pay their last respects to the patriarch.
The funeral service will take place at St. Vladimir’s Cathedral
According to the OCU, the funeral service is scheduled for Sunday, March 22, at St. Vladimir’s Cathedral.
After the funeral liturgy, the patriarch’s body will be carried in a solemn procession to the cathedral, where the burial will take place.
Epiphanius: Filaret dedicated his life to Ukraine and the Church
In his address, the Primate of the OCU emphasized Filaret’s role in the formation of the Ukrainian Church and statehood.
“Today, the heart of a faithful son of Ukraine, an unyielding builder of our local Ukrainian Orthodox Church, has stopped beating. A man who dedicated his life to serving God, Ukraine, and the Ukrainian people,” noted Metropolitan Epiphanius.
He emphasized that the patriarch made a significant contribution to the development of the autocephalous Ukrainian Church.
“His name is inscribed in gold letters in our history. He did much to unite Orthodox Ukrainians and establish an independent Ukrainian state.”
Contribution to the restoration of St. Michael’s Cathedral
Epiphanius also recalled that it was thanks to Filaret’s persistence that St. Michael’s Golden-Domed Cathedral was restored.
“It is no coincidence that the farewell begins right here, for thanks to his efforts, this cathedral was restored and stands in all its glory.”
The Primate of the OCU called on believers to preserve the memory of the patriarch’s spiritual legacy and to continue his work.
What is known about the death of Patriarch Filaret
Honorary Patriarch Filaret of the OCU died on March 20, 2026. He was one of the key figures of Ukrainian Orthodoxy and a longtime advocate for the independence of the Ukrainian Church.
His work played a significant role in shaping the modern ecclesiastical history of Ukraine.
What is known about Filaret
Filaret was born on January 23, 1929. From 1995 to 2018, he served as Patriarch of Kyiv and All Rus-Ukraine of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kyiv Patriarchate (UOC-KP); since December 15, 2018, he has held the title of “Honorary Patriarch.”
- The Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kyiv Patriarchate—an Orthodox church in Ukraine—existed from June 1992 until December 15, 2018 (as of November 14, 2019, the legal entity was dissolved). In December 2018, prior to the decision on its dissolution, it was divided into 34 dioceses, comprising over 5,000 parishes. Patriarch Filaret, the head of the UOC-KP, was granted the title of Honorary Patriarch after the Tomos of Autocephaly was granted to the successor of the UOC-KP, the Orthodox Church of Ukraine.
- Filaret, who was one of the founders of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, refused to recognize it in 2019. He insists that the UOC-KP still exists and that he is its patriarch.
- In early May 2019, it became clear that Filaret continues to use the official letterhead of the Kyiv Patriarchate, awards orders and medals in the name of this structure, publishes decrees in the name of the Kyiv Patriarchate, and demands their implementation from the bishops and priests of the newly established OCU.
- In May, at the Synod of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, attempts were made to convince Filaret that the UOC-KP no longer exists, but they were unsuccessful.
- In February 2020, the OCU suspended Honorary Patriarch Filaret’s powers as a member of the Synod. This occurred after Bishop Filaret (Pank) of Falesti and Eastern Moldova transferred to the UOC-KP, even though his diocese is located in Moldova and, following the establishment of the OCU, was supposed to come under the jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
- Last October, it became known that Patriarch Filaret had stipulated in his will that after his death, his funeral service should be conducted not by the OCU, but by the bishops of the UOC-KP.
