Editing Filaret Denysenko (section)

==Creation of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church - Kyiv Patriarchate ==
{{Main|Ukrainian Orthodox Church – Kyiv Patriarchate}}
Following Ukraine's declaration of independence from the [[Soviet Union]] on 24 August 1991, a national [[Synod#Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox|sobor]] of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church was held from November 1–3.<ref name=finallyaref/> At the sobor, the voting delegates, (who included all UOC bishops, clergy and lay delegates from each diocese; a delegate from each monastery and seminary, and recognized lay brotherhood) unanimously passed a resolution stating that henceforth the UOC would operate as an autocephalous church.<ref name=finallyaref/> A separate resolution, also unanimous, affirmed the church's desire for Metropolitan Filaret to become its Primate.

Filaret convened an assembly at the [[Kyiv Pechersk Lavra]] in January 1992 that adopted a request of autocephaly for Ukrainians to the Moscow Patriarch.<ref>[http://ukrainianweek.com/Politics/221781 After autocephaly], [[The Ukrainian Week]] (26 October 2018)<br />{{in lang|uk}} [https://m.gazeta.ua/articles/life/_vselenskij-patriarhat-oprilyudniv-dokumenti-na-pidtrimku-ukrayinskoyi-avtokefaliyi/859088 The Ecumenical Patriarchate unveiled documents in support of Ukrainian autocephaly], [[Gazeta.ua]] (14 September 2018)</ref>

In March–April 1992, the Hierarchical Council of the Russian Orthodox Church met with a single agenda item: to consider the resolution passed by the UOC Sobor four months earlier. Although the issue itself was not discussed, Filaret was asked to resign.<ref name=finallyaref/> On the second day of the meeting, Metropolitan Filaret agreed to submit his resignation to the UOC Synod, and the ROC Synod passed a resolution which stated:

''"The Council of Bishops took into account the statement of the Most Reverend Filaret, Metropolitan of Kyiv and of All-Ukraine, that for the sake of church peace, at the next Council of Bishops of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, he will submit a request to be relieved from the position of the Primate of the UOC. Understanding of the position of Metropolitan Filaret, the Council of Bishops expressed to him its gratitude for the long period of labour as Archbishop of the See of Kyiv and blessed him to carry out his episcopal service in another diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church."''<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.patriarchia.ru/db/text/526289.html|title=Определение относительно обращения епископата Украинской Православной Церкви по поводу дарования ей автокефалии / Официальные документы / Патриархия.ru|website=Патриархия.ru|language=ru|access-date=2018-11-29}}</ref><ref name=":0" />

However, after returning to Kyiv, Filaret recanted his resignation. On 14 April, Metropolitan Filaret held a press conference in which he alleged that undue pressure was exerted at the ROC Synod in Moscow, both directly and through threats made by [[Federal Counterintelligence Service|FSK]] personnel who, he said, were present at the gathering. Filaret stated that he was retracting his resignation on the grounds that his resignation "would not bring peace to the Church, would contradict the will of the believers, and would be uncanonical."{{Citation needed|date=November 2018}}