On the evening of March 20, 2026, a farewell ceremony for Patriarch Filaret, the honorary patriarch of Kyiv and all Rus’-Ukraine, commenced at St. Michael’s Golden-Domed Cathedral in Kyiv. The Orthodox Church of Ukraine announced that from that evening until the morning of March 22, the Gospel would be read and memorial prayers offered over his grave.
Access to the farewell was initially restricted for valid reasons, but overall, it was open to the public. On March 22, at 8:30 AM, a memorial Divine Liturgy will be held at St. Michael’s Cathedral, presided over by Metropolitan Epiphaniy, along with the episcopate and clergy. Following this service, the funeral rites will take place.
At approximately 11 AM, a mourning procession will depart from St. Michael’s Monastery, proceeding through Sofia Square to the Volodymyr Cathedral. Upon arrival, the final rites will be completed, and the burial of the late patriarch will occur.
On March 20, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed his condolences to Metropolitan Epiphaniy during a phone call, highlighting the late patriarch’s significant contributions to Ukraine’s spiritual independence and his steadfast support for the Ukrainian people’s struggle against Russian aggression.
The Orthodox Church of Ukraine announced the death of Patriarch Filaret at noon on March 20. Just days prior, on March 9, the church had urged its followers to pray for his health following his hospitalization and deteriorating condition.
Filaret, born Mykhailo Denysenko on January 23, 1929, served as the head of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kyiv Patriarchate from October 1995 for many years. In December 2018, after receiving the tomos from the Ecumenical Patriarch, the Orthodox Church of Ukraine named him its honorary patriarch.
In June 2022, shortly after the onset of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Patriarch Filaret called for a unifying council of the three branches of Ukrainian Orthodoxy, which included the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate), the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, and the Kyiv Patriarchate.
The farewell ceremony for Patriarch Filaret at St. Michael's Cathedral marks a significant moment for the Orthodox Church of Ukraine. His contributions to the church and Ukraine's spiritual independence are being commemorated as the country mourns his passing.