'Thanks to Patriarch Filaret’s charisma, the Ukrainian people got an autocephalous Church': Head of UGCC expresses his condolences
This was reported by the UGCC Department for Information.
“We received the news of Honorary Patriarch Filaret's passing with deep sorrow. He was ninety-eight years old and has now received his eternal reward from our Lord. On behalf of our entire Church — which includes bishops, clergy, monastics, and laity — I offer my sincere condolences and assure you of our fraternal prayers for the repose of the departed,” reads a letter from the Head of the UGCC.
His Beatitude Sviatoslav emphasized that the Lord blessed the late archpastor with a long life spent in union with God — a life nearly a century long, filled with the trials of war, famine, terror, and brutal persecution for the faith.
He reflected that this century was marked by prayer, service, and a faithful witness to God’s love and the victory of the Risen Christ.
“Looking back on Patriarch Filaret’s challenging life journey, we see a shepherd who, understanding the weight of his responsibility, always sought to follow Jesus Christ. His words and deeds earned him authority in society, leading politicians and businesspeople to listen to him. He stood in defense of our people’s spiritual and cultural heritage and was an ardent defender of their rights and freedoms,” said the Head of the UGCC.
He also noted that, thanks to Patriarch Filaret’s charisma and faithfulness to the Lord, the people of Ukraine received an autocephalous Church from Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew. The Primate recalled the fruitful cooperation among the Churches within the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations, in ecumenical initiatives, and in joint statements on socio-political issues.
