Editing Filaret Denysenko

{{Short description|Ukrainian Orthodox religious leader (born 1929)}}
{{POV|date=July 2022}}
{{Infobox Christian leader
| honorific-prefix = [[His Holiness]] and [[His Beatitude|Beatitude]]
| name = Filaret
| title = [[Archbishop]] and [[Metropolitan bishop|Metropolitan]] of [[Kyiv]] – Mother of the Rus Cities and of [[Kingdom of Galicia–Volhynia|Galicia]], Patriarch of All [[Kievan Rus'|Rus-Ukraine]], Holy [[Archimandrite]] of the Holy Assumption [[Kyiv Pechersk Lavra|Kyiv-Pechersk]] and [[Pochayiv Lavra|Pochaev Lavras]]
| honorific-suffix = 
| image = Wp filaretdenisenko.jpg
| church = [[Ukrainian Orthodox Church – Kyiv Patriarchate|Kyiv Patriarchate]]
| see = Patriarch of Kyiv and all Ukraine
| birth_name = Mykhailo Antonovych Denysenko
| enthroned = July 1995
| ended = 15 December 2018
| predecessor = [[Joasaph Leliukhin|Ioasaph II]] ([[Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate)]]) <br /> [[Patriarch Volodomyr (Romaniuk)|Volodymyr]] ([[Ukrainian Orthodox Church – Kyiv Patriarchate]])
| successor = Metropolitan [[Epiphanius I (Metropolitan of Kyiv)|Epiphany I]] ([[Orthodox Church of Ukraine]]) <br /> himself as "Honorary Patriarch"
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1929|1|23|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Blahodatne, Amvrosiivka urban hromada|Blahodatne]], [[Amvrosiivka Raion]], [[Donetsk Oblast|Donetsk]], [[Ukrainian SSR]]
| ordination = 18 June 1951
| consecration = 4 February 1962
| consecrated_by = [[Pimen I of Moscow]]
| signature = Philaret (Denisenko) Signature 2014.png
| caption = Filaret in 2013
}}

'''Patriarch Filaret''' ([[secular name]] ''Mykhailo Antonovych Denysenko'' Михайло Антонович Денисенко, born 23 January 1929) is a [[Ukrainians|Ukrainian]] religious leader, currently serving as the primate and Patriarch of the [[Ukrainian Orthodox Church – Kyiv Patriarchate]]. The [[Orthodox Church of Ukraine]], that he [[Filaret (Denysenko)#Conflict|left in 2019]], views him as the Honorary Patriarch [[emeritus]], while the [[Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople]] recognises him as former [[Metropolitan of Kyiv]].<ref name=":30" /><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pomisna.info/uk/episcopate-post/filaret-denisenko/|title=Filaret (Denysenko)|website=www.pomisna.info}}</ref> He was formerly the [[Metropolis of Kiev (Patriarchate of Moscow)|Metropolitan of Kiev]] and the Exarch of Ukraine in the [[Patriarch of Moscow|Patriarchate of Moscow]] (1966–1992). After joining the Kyiv Patriarchate, he was [[defrocked]] and in 1997 [[ex-communication|excommunicated]] by the ROC.

On 11 October 2018, the [[Patriarchate of Constantinople]] reinstated him in church communion.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.patriarchate.org/-/communiq-1|title=Announcement (11/10/2018). - Announcements - The Ecumenical Patriarchate|website=www.patriarchate.org}}</ref> However, while restored to the episcopate, the Ecumenical Patriarchate never recognised him as Patriarch and views him as the former Metropolitan of Kyiv.<ref name=":30">{{Cite web|url=http://spzh.news/en/news/56602-fanar-schitajet-filareta-prostym-jepiskopom-bez-kafedry|title=Phanar considers Filaret an ordinary bishop without an episcopal see|date=14 October 2018|website=spzh.news|language=en|access-date=2018-10-29}}</ref><ref name=":69">{{Cite web|url=https://www.romfea.gr/epikairotita-xronika/25568-apokleistiko-bartholomaios-se-onoufrio-den-mporeite-na-exete-pleon-ton-titlo-kiebou|title=ΑΠΟΚΛΕΙΣΤΙΚΟ {{!}} Βαρθολομαίος σε Ονούφριο: ''Δεν μπορείτε να έχετε πλέον τον τίτλο Κιέβου''|date=7 December 2018|website=ROMFEA|language=el-gr|access-date=2018-12-08}}</ref><ref>[http://users.sch.gr/markmarkou/1962/new/filaretos_denisenko.htm Ο Σεβασμιώτατος Μητροπολίτης πρώην Κιέβου και Γαλικίας κύριος Φιλάρετος. (γεν. 1929). (Εκκλησία της Ουκρανίας).]</ref><ref name="ecpatrukr">{{cite web |url=http://users.sch.gr/markmarkou/2019/ukr2019.htm |title=ΙΕ. ΕΚΚΛΗΣΙΑ ΤΗΣ ΟΥΚΡΑΝΙΑΣ|language=el |date=2019-02-16 |access-date=2019-02-17}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ecupatria.org/2019/06/08/ecumenical-patriarch-met-the-national-union-of-journalists-of-ukraine/|title=Ecumenical Patriarch met the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine|date=2019-06-08|website=Ecumenical Patriarchate Permanent Delegation to the World Council of Churches|language=en-US|access-date=2019-06-13}}</ref>

On 15 December 2018, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kyiv Patriarchate united with the [[Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.unian.info/politics/10378089-unification-council-taking-place-at-kyiv-s-st-sophia-cathedral-live-video.html|title=Unification council taking place at Kyiv's St. Sophia Cathedral (Live video)|date=15 December 2018|website=unian.info|language=en|access-date=2018-12-16}}</ref> and some members of the [[Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate)|Ukrainian Orthodox Church (MP)]]<ref name=":802">{{Cite web|url=https://orthodoxie.com/en/the-council-started-late/|title=The council started late|last=Cazabonne|first=Emma|date=2018-12-15|website=Orthodoxie.com|language=en-US|access-date=2018-12-16}}</ref> into the [[Orthodox Church of Ukraine]]; the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kyiv Patriarchate thus ceased to exist.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-46575548|title=Ukraine priests establish new Church|date=2018-12-15|work=BBC News|access-date=2018-12-18|language=en-GB}}</ref>

==Early years==
Mykhailo Denysenko was born on 23 January 1929,<ref name=":7" /> into a worker's family in the village of [[Blahodatne, Amvrosiivka urban hromada, Donetsk Raion, Donetsk Oblast|Blahodatne]] in the [[Amvrosiivsky Raion]] ([[raion|district]]), now in the [[Donetsk Oblast]] ([[Oblast|province]]) in [[Eastern Ukraine]]. His parents were Anton and Melania Denysenko.<ref name="finallyaref">{{cite web|url=https://ukrainianweek.com/Society/64554|title=Filaret: A Statehood-oriented Patriarch|last=Losiev|first=Ihor|date=8 November 2012|website=[[The Ukrainian Week]]|access-date=6 January 2019}}</ref> He obtained his [[theological]] education at the [[Odesa]] Seminary (Moscow Patriarchate) and the [[Moscow Theological Academy and Seminary|Moscow Theological Academy]] where he became a close associate of [[Patriarch Alexy I of Moscow|Patriarch Alexius I]] of Moscow. He took [[monastic vows]] in 1950 assuming the monastic name ''Filaret'' and was [[Holy Orders|ordained]] [[hierodeacon]] in January 1950 and [[priest]] in June 1951.<ref name=finallyaref/> After his graduation he stayed at the Moscow Theological Academy as a professor (from 1952) and Senior Assistant to the Academy inspector.<ref name=finallyaref/> In 1956 he was appointed Inspector of the Theological Seminary in [[Saratov]] and elevated to the rank of [[hegumen]]. In 1957 he was appointed Inspector of the [[Kyiv]] Theological Seminary.<ref name=finallyaref/> In July 1958 he was further elevated to the rank of [[Archimandrite]] and appointed seminary [[Rector (ecclesiastical)|rector]].<ref name=finallyaref/>

==Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church==
In 1961, Filaret served in the mission of the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) to the [[Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria]]. In January 1962 Filaret was elected [[vicar]] Bishop of the [[Saint Petersburg|Leningrad]] [[Eparchy]] and, in February, was ordained [[bishop]] in Leningrad by [[Patriarch Pimen I|Metropolitan Pimen]] (later [[Moscow Patriarch]]) and other bishops. Filaret was appointed to several diplomatic missions of the Russian Orthodox Church and from 1962 to 1964 served as [[Diocese of Vienna and Austria|ROC Bishop of Vienna and Austria]].<ref name=finallyaref/> In 1964 he returned to [[Moscow]] as the Bishop of [[Dmitrov]] and rector of the Moscow Theological Academy and Seminary.

In 1966, he became [[archbishop]] of [[Kyiv]] and [[Halych]], thus becoming one of the most influential [[hierarch]]s in the Russian Orthodox Church, where the office of the Kyiv Metropolitan is highly regarded. At that time he also became a permanent member of the [[Holy Synod#The Russian Holy Synod|Holy Synod]], the highest collegiate body of the Russian Orthodox Church, which has the responsibility of electing the [[Moscow Patriarch]]. In 1968 Filaret became Metropolitan of Kyiv and Galicia.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Losiev|first1=Ihor|title=Filaret: A Statehood-oriented Patriarch|url=http://ukrainianweek.com/Society/64554|newspaper=The Ukrainian Week|edition=International|publisher=Ukrainian Week LLC|date=2012-11-08|access-date=2016-11-22|quote=Held several top offices in the Russian Orthodox Church in 1960-1990, including Exarch of Central Europe, Bishop of Vienna and Austria, Rector of the Moscow Ecclesiastical Academy and Seminary, Exarch of Ukraine, Metropolitan of Kyiv and Galicia (since 1968)}}</ref>

As late as October 1989, Filaret was still saying, "The [[Uniates]] will never be legalized in our country."<ref>Christopher Andrew and Vasili Mitrokhin, ''The Sword and the Shield: The Mitrokhin Archive and the Secret History of the KGB'', (1999). Page 503.</ref>

On May 3, 1990, [[Patriarch Pimen I of Moscow|Patriarch Pimen of Moscow]] died and, the same day, Filaret became the [[Locum|locum tenens]] of the [[Russian Orthodox Church]]. Filaret was not elected Patriarch of Moscow.<ref name=":7">{{Cite book|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-h6r57lDC4QC&q=locum+tenens+filaret&pg=PA173|title=Historical Dictionary of Ukraine|author1=[[Ivan Katchanovski]]|last2=Kohut|first2=Zenon E.|last3=Nebesio|first3=Bohdan Y.|last4=Yurkevich|first4=Myroslav|date=2013-07-11|publisher=Scarecrow Press|isbn=978-0-8108-7847-1|page=173|language=en|chapter=FILARET DENYSHENKO (SECULAR NAME: MYKHAILO; b. 23 JANUARY 1929)}}</ref> Retrospectively, in 2019, Filaret declared "it was not by chance that I was not elected. The Lord prepared me for Ukraine"<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://news24ua.com/putin-zhaleet-chto-patriarhom-rpc-vybrali-ne-menya-filaret-rasskazal-taynu|title=Путин жалеет, что патриархом РПЦ выбрали не меня. Филарет рассказал "тайну" {{!}} НОВОСТИ СОБЫТИЯ ЛЮДИ|date=8 January 2019|website=news24ua.com|access-date=2019-01-09}}</ref><ref>{{Citation|last=Телеканал Прямий|title=Інтерв'ю з почесним патріархом Філаретом на ПРЯМОМУ каналі|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ca5Eddl-cvs |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/ca5Eddl-cvs| archive-date=2021-12-12 |url-status=live|access-date=2019-01-10}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

On 27 October 1990, in a ceremony at [[Saint Sophia's Cathedral, Kyiv|St. Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv]], the newly elected [[Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow|Patriarch Alexei II]] handed to Metropolitan Filaret a ''[[Tomos (Eastern Orthodox Church)|tomos]]'' granting "independence in self government" (the tomos did not use either of the words [[Autonomy (Eastern Christianity)|"autonomy"]] or "[[autocephaly]]") to Metropolitan Filaret, and enthroned Filaret, heretofore "Metropolitan of Kyiv", as "Metropolitan of Kyiv and All-Ukraine".<ref name=finallyaref/>

In 1992, the Russian Orthodox priest and [[Soviet dissident]] Fr. [[Gleb Yakunin]] accused Exarch Filaret of having been an informer for the [[KGB]]. Father Gleb stated that he had seen KGB files which listed Exarch Filaret's codename as ''Antonov''.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.csmonitor.com/1992/0428/28191.html|title=The KGB's Agents in Cassocks|last=Uzzell|first=Lawrence A.|date=1992-04-28|work=[[The Christian Science Monitor]]|access-date=2019-11-13|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20191113081601/https://www.csmonitor.com/1992/0428/28191.html|archive-date=2019-11-13|issn=0882-7729}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-1992-05-07-1992128134-story.html|title=Covering Up the Kremlin's Agents in Cassocks|last=Uzzell |first=Lawrence A. |date=1992-05-07 |newspaper=[[The Baltimore Sun]]|language=en-US|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20191113082419/https://www.tribpub.com/gdpr/baltimoresun.com/|archive-date=2019-11-13|access-date=2019-11-13}}</ref> The fact of cooperation with KGB was mentioned by [[people's deputies of Ukraine]] on 20 January 1992 when they came out with an official statement.<ref>[[Oleksandr Drabynko]]. 
"[https://web.archive.org/web/20240103204141/https://pereyaslav-eparchia.kiev.ua/arkhierej/statti-ta-rozdumy/395-aleksandr-drabinko-pravoslavie-v-posttotalitarnoj-ukraine-vekhi-istorii Православие в посттоталитарной Украине (вехи истории)]". pereyaslav-eparchia.kiev.ua (archived). 1 March 2015</ref> According to internal KGB documents, tasks the KGB assigned Filaret as an agent included promoting Soviet positions and candidates in the World Council of Churches (WCC), the Christian Peace Conference (CPC) and other international bodies, and, by the 1980s, backing the Soviet authorities' attempts to prevent the long-suppressed Ukrainian Catholic Church (disparagingly called 'Uniates') from regaining an open existence, and backing state attempts to prevent religious believers demanding their rights as glasnost and perestroika opened up the sphere of public debate.<ref>The Antonov Files: Patriarch Filaret and the KGB https://www.academia.edu/37256947/The_Antonov_Files_Patriarch_Filaret_and_the_KGB</ref> In 2018, Filaret declared in an interview with [[Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty|Radio Liberty]] that he, like all bishops under [[Warsaw Pact|communism]], had to have contacts with the KGB.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2018/12/23/7202101/|title=Філарет розповів про вплив КДБ на церкву часів СРСР і погрози розстрілом|date=23 December 2018|website=www.pravda.com.ua|access-date=2018-12-23}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://spzh.news/ru/news/58610-filaret-rasskazal-o-svojem-sotrudnichestve-s-kgb|title=Филарет рассказал о своем сотрудничестве с КГБ|date=23 December 2018|website=spzh.news|language=RU|access-date=2018-12-23}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.radiosvoboda.org/a/29671187.html|script-title=uk:"Виймає пістолет і каже: ми можемо вас розстріляти" – Філарет розповів про співпрацю церкви і КДБ|date=23 December 2018|website=Радіо Свобода|language=uk|access-date=2018-12-23 |last1=Свобода |first1=Радіо }}</ref><ref name=":5">{{Citation|last=Радіо Свобода|title=Якби я не поступився, томосу не було б – Філарет|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xLkhcCl-tA |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/8xLkhcCl-tA| archive-date=2021-12-12 |url-status=live|access-date=2018-12-23}}{{cbignore}}</ref> In 2019, he declared every bishop of the [[Russian Orthodox Church|Moscow Patriarchate]] had to have contact with the KGB, even when it came to appoint a bishop. He added that he had been trained by the [[Politburo of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union|Politburo]] and [[Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow|Patriarch Alexy]] by the KGB.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.unian.info/society/10415307-unlike-kgb-sbu-doesn-t-tell-church-what-to-do-filaret.html|title=Unlike KGB, SBU doesn't tell church what to do – Filaret|date=21 January 2019|website=www.unian.info|language=en|access-date=2019-01-21}}</ref><ref name=":82">{{Cite web|url=https://risu.org.ua/en/index/all_news/orthodox/ocu/74385/|title=Ukrainian Church split by Moscow and KGB, Honorary Patriarch Filaret says|date=21 January 2019|website=risu.org.ua|access-date=2019-01-22}}</ref><ref name="ru.tsn.ua">{{Cite web|url=https://ru.tsn.ua/interview/ukrainskuyu-cerkov-raskololi-moskva-i-kgb-1283118.html|script-title=ru:Украинскую церковь раскололи Москва и КГБ|date=2019-01-20|website=ТСН.ua|language=ru|access-date=2019-01-21}}</ref>

==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}}

== Suspension and anathemization ==
Shortly thereafter, the Russian Orthodox Church, unable to prevent the creation of what it viewed as a "[[schism (religion)|schism]]atic church" in independent Ukraine, helped to organize a rival [[synod]] which was held in [[Kharkiv]] in May 1992. These bishops elected a bishop of the Russian Orthodox Church, [[Metropolitan Volodymyr (Viktor Sabodan)|Bishop Volodymyr (Sabodan)]], Metropolitan of Kyiv, and received recognition from Moscow as the [[Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate)]].<ref name=":1" />

Filaret was suspended on 27 May 1992 by the [[Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate)]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=http://spzh.news/en/istorija-i-kulytrua/42446-to-the-anniversary-of-kharkov-council-or-a-few-words-about-how-m-a-denisenko-was-expelled-from-churc|title=To the anniversary of Kharkov Council, or a few words about how M.A. Denisenko was "expelled" from Church|date=25 May 2017|website=spzh.news|language=en|access-date=2018-11-21}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=http://orthochristian.com/116586.html|title=Official History of the Defrocking and Anathematization of Philaret Denisenko. Documents of the June 1992, 1994, and 1997 Bishops' Councils of the Russian Orthodox Church|date=17 October 2018|work=OrthoChristian.Com|access-date=2018-11-29}}</ref>  The bishops loyal to Metropolitan Filaret and a similar group from the [[Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church]] (another recently revived church in Ukraine) organized a unifying sobor which was held on 25 June 1992. The delegates agreed to form a combined church named the ''[[Ukrainian Orthodox Church - Kyiv Patriarchate]]'' (UOC-KP) under the patriarch they elected, [[Patriarch Mstyslav (Stepan Skrypnyk)|Patriarch Mstyslav]].<ref name=finallyaref/><ref name="221781autocephaly">[http://ukrainianweek.com/Politics/221781 After autocephaly], [[The Ukrainian Week]] (26 October 2018) {{in lang|uk}} [https://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>

Filaret was [[Defrocking|defrocked]] by the Russian Orthodox Church on 11 July 1992.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1992/06/13/ukraines-top-cleric-defrocked/18c1fa4d-0ace-4adf-8e96-cff335e97d36/|title=UKRAINE'S TOP CLERIC DEFROCKED|last=Shapiro|first=Margaret|date=13 June 1992|website=washingtonpost.com|access-date=11 December 2018}}</ref> The UOC-KP was not recognized by other Orthodox churches and was considered schismatic.

Filaret was then [[Anathema#Eastern Orthodoxy|anathemized]] by the Russian Orthodox Church in 1997.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://mospat.ru/en/2018/10/15/news165263/|title=Statement by the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church concerning the encroachment of the Patriarchate of Constantinople on the canonical territory of the Russian Church|author=The Russian Orthodox Church|website=mospat.ru|language=en-US|access-date=2018-10-31|quote="By the decision of the Bishops' Council of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which took place on May 27, 1992, in Kharkov, Metropolitan Philaret (Denisenko), for his failure to fulfil the promises he gave on oath at the cross and the Gospel during the previous Bishops' Council of the Russian Orthodox Church, was removed from the see of Kyiv and suspended.<br />The Bishops' Council of the Russian Orthodox Church, by its Resolution of June 11, 1992, confirmed the decision of the Council of Kharkov and deposed Philaret Denisenko depriving him of all ranks of ministry according to the following accusations: 'Cruel and arrogant attitude to the clergy under his jurisdiction, diktat and blackmail (Tit. 1: 7-8; Apostolic Canon 27; bringing temptation to the community of the faithful by his behaviour and private life (Mt. 18:7; the First Ecumenical Council Canon 3, the Sixth Ecumenical Council Canon 5); perjury (Apostolic Canon 25); public slander and blasphemy against a Bishops' Council (Second Ecumenical Council Canon 6); exercising divine offices including ordinations in the state of suspension (Apostolic Canon 28); causing a schism in the Church (Double Council Canon 15). All the ordinations administered by Philaret in the state of suspension since May 27, 1992, and the suspensions imposed by him were recognized as invalid.<br />In spite of repeated calls to repentance, Philaret Denisenko after his deposition continued his schismatic activity, also within other Local Churches. By the decision of the 1997 Bishops' Council of the Russian Orthodox Church, he was anathematized."}}</ref><ref name=":0" /> ROC officials stated that the anathematization of Filaret was "recognized by all the Local Orthodox Churches including the Church of Constantinople"<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://mospat.ru/en/2018/10/15/news165263/|title=Statement by the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church concerning the encroachment of the Patriarchate of Constantinople on the canonical territory of the Russian Church {{!}} The Russian Orthodox Church|website=mospat.ru|language=en-US|access-date=2018-10-31|quote="In spite of repeated calls to repentance, Philaret Denisenko after his deposition continued his schismatic activity, also within other Local Churches. By the decision of the 1997 Bishops' Council of the Russian Orthodox Church, he was anathematized. These decisions were recognized by all the Local Orthodox Churches including the Church of Constantinople."}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://mospat.ru/en/2018/10/22/news165617/|title=Metropolitan Hilarion: Filaret Denisenko was and remains a schismatic {{!}} The Russian Orthodox Church|website=mospat.ru|language=en-US|access-date=2018-10-30|quote=For us Filaret was and remains a schismatic. [...] [T]he decision of his excommunication in 1997 was correct in every respect. It was recognized by all Local Churches without any exception, the Patriarchate of Constantinople including.}}</ref><ref name=":29">{{Cite web|url=http://ukrainianweek.com/History/64556|title=Freeing Ukraine from Spiritual Dependence|last=Podobied|first=Pavlo|date=8 November 2012|website=ukrainianweek.com|type=History of the churches in Ukraine|access-date=2018-10-29}}</ref><ref name="221781autocephaly" /> The synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate did indeed recognize, in a July 1992 letter to [[Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow|Patriarch Alexy II]], the defrocking of Filaret by the ROC,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.romfea.gr/oikoumeniko-patriarxeio/24406-apokleistiko-otan-o-oikoumenikos-patriarxis-anagnorize-tin-kathairesi-tou-filaretou|script-title=el:ΑΠΟΚΛΕΙΣΤΙΚΟ: Όταν ο Οικουμενικός Πατριάρχης αναγνώριζε την καθαίρεση του Φιλάρετου!|date=16 October 2018|website=ROMFEA|language=el-gr|access-date=2018-12-16}}</ref><ref name=":6">{{Cite web|url=http://orthochristian.com/116803.html|title=Patriarch Bartholomew's 1997 acceptance of anathematization of Philaret Denisenko|date=25 October 2018|website=OrthoChristian.Com|access-date=2019-01-04}}</ref><ref name=":0" />  and the Ecumenical Patriarch recognized the anathemization of Filaret in a letter of April 1997 to Patriarch Alexy II.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://orthodoxie.com/en/april-7-1997-patriarch-bartholomews-letter-taking-note-of-filaret-denisenkos-anathematization/|title=April 7, 1997 Patriarch Bartholomew's letter taking note of Filaret Denisenko's anathematization|last=Cazabonne|first=Emma|date=2018-10-26|website=Orthodoxie.com|language=en-US|access-date=2019-01-28}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.romfea.gr/oikoumeniko-patriarxeio/24616-otan-o-oikoumenikos-patriarxis-to-1997-apodexthike-to-anathema-tou-filaretou|script-title=el:Όταν ο Οικουμενικός Πατριάρχης το 1997 αποδέχθηκε το ανάθεμα του Φιλαρέτου|date=26 October 2018|website=ROMFEA|language=el-gr|access-date=2019-01-28}}</ref><ref name=":63">{{Cite web|url=http://orthochristian.com/116803.html|title=Patriarch Bartholomew's 1997 acceptance of anathematization of Philaret Denisenko|date=25 October 2018|website=OrthoChristian.Com|access-date=2019-01-04}}</ref> Filaret was also accused by the ROC of having a wife and three children, but it was "never proved".<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.la-croix.com/Religion/Orthodoxie/Philarete-Kiev-tient-revanche-contre-Moscou-2018-10-11-1200975340|title=Philarète de Kiev tient sa revanche contre Moscou|last=La-Croix.com|date=2018-10-11|website=La Croix|language=fr|access-date=2018-12-15}}</ref>

== Leadership of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church - Kyiv Patriarchate ==
{{Main|Ukrainian Orthodox Church – Kyiv Patriarchate}}{{See also|2018 Moscow–Constantinople schism}}
[[File:Митрополит Мефодій та Президент Ющенко на День Незалежності, Софійська площа, 2007.jpg|thumb|250px|Filaret and Ukrainian President [[Viktor Yushchenko]], Kyiv, 2007|alt=|left]]
After the death of Patriarch Mstyslav in 1993, the church was headed by [[Patriarch Volodomyr (Romaniuk)|Patriarch Volodymyr]], and in July 1995, upon the death of Volodymyr, Filaret was elected head of the UOC-KP by a vote of 160–5.<ref name="finallyaref" />

Metropolitan Filaret consecrated at least 85 bishops.
[[File:Порошенко і патріарх Філарет.jpg|thumb|250px|Filaret with Ukrainian President [[Petro Poroshenko]], 21 October 2018]]

On 11 October 2018, the Holy Synod of the [[Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople]] announced that Filaret Denisenko, along with the Primate of [[Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church|UAOC]], had been "restored to communion with the Church."<ref name=":23">{{Cite web|url=https://www.patriarchate.org/-/communiq-1|title=Announcement (11/10/2018). - Announcements - The Ecumenical Patriarchate|website=www.patriarchate.org|language=en-US|access-date=2018-10-27|quote=3) To accept and review the petitions of appeal of Filaret Denisenko, Makariy Maletych and their followers, who found themselves in schism not for dogmatic reasons, in accordance with the canonical prerogatives of the Patriarch of Constantinople to receive such petitions by hierarchs and other clergy from all of the Autocephalous Churches. Thus, the above-mentioned have been canonically reinstated to their hierarchical or priestly rank, and their faithful have been restored to communion with the Church.}}</ref> The decision of the Ecumenical Patriarchate also abolished the Moscow Patriarchate's jurisdiction over the diocese of Kyiv and hence all the bishops concerned were viewed by the Ecumenical Patriarchate as being under its jurisdiction.<ref>[https://www.bbc.com/ukrainian/features-russian-46071179 Константинополь: Московского патриархата в Украине больше нет]. BBC, 2 November 2018.</ref>

On 20 October 2018, the UOC-KP changed the title of its head, to "His Holiness and Beatitude (name), Archbishop and Metropolitan of Kyiv – Mother of the Rus Cities and of [[Kingdom of Galicia–Volhynia|Galicia]], Patriarch of All [[Kievan Rus'|Rus-Ukraine]], Holy [[Archimandrite]] of the Holy Assumption [[Kyiv Pechersk Lavra|Kyiv-Pechersk]] and [[Pochayiv Lavra|Pochaev Lavras]]".<ref name=":212">{{Cite web|url=https://www.cerkva.info/church/zhurnaly-zasidannia-sviashchennoho-synodu-20-zhovtnia-2018-r|title=ЖУРНАЛ №17 ЗАСІДАННЯ СВЯЩЕННОГО СИНОДУ УКРАЇНСЬКОЇ ПРАВОСЛАВНОЇ ЦЕРКВИ КИЇВСЬКОГО ПАТРІАРХАТУ|date=20 October 2018|website=www.cerkva.info|publisher=Українська Православна Церква Київський Патріархат (УПЦ КП)|access-date=2018-10-27}}</ref><ref name=":20">{{Cite web|url=http://spzh.news/en/news/56848-mitropolit-snaruzhi--patriarkh-vnutri-upc-kp-smenila-titul-svojego-glavy|title="Metropolitan" and "patriarch" rolled into one: KP changes its head's title|date=20 October 2018|website=spzh.news|language=en|access-date=2018-10-29}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite web|url=https://spzh.news/en/news/57050-spiker-upc-kp-nash-predstojately--i-arkhijepiskop-i-mitropolit-i-patriarkh|title=UOC KP Spokesman: Our Primate is archbishop, metropolitan, and patriarch|date=27 October 2018|website=spzh.news|language=en|access-date=2018-10-29}}</ref> The abridged form is "His Holiness (name), Patriarch of Kyiv and All Rus'-Ukraine" and the form for interchurch relations "Archbishop, Metropolitan of Kyiv and All Rus'-Ukraine".<ref name=":212" /><ref name=":20" /><ref name=":22">{{Cite web|url=https://moderndiplomacy.eu/2018/10/26/is-the-ecumenical-patriarchate-fine-with-st-andrews-church-in-kyiv/|title=Is the Ecumenical Patriarchate Fine with St. Andrew's Church in Kyiv?|last=Wozniak|first=Hanna|date=26 October 2018|website=moderndiplomacy.eu|language=en-US|access-date=2018-10-27|quote="On October 20, the UOC KP Synod changed the title of its head [Filaret]. Now the Church's Primate will also be called the Archimandrite of Kyiv-Pechersk and Pochaiv Lavras, which seemingly reflects Filaret's desire to get them at his disposal. At the moment both Lavras belong to the UOC MP [the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate)], so it looks like the "Archimandrite" doesn't want to comply with the fifth point of the Constantinople Synod decree in which the Patriarchate appeals to all sides involved that they avoid appropriation of Churches, Monasteries and other properties."}}</ref><ref>{{Citation|last=Укрінформ|title=Українська церква на шляху утвердження автокефалії|date=2018-10-26|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAQ5PvGa8bg |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/gAQ5PvGa8bg| archive-date=2021-12-12 |url-status=live|access-date=2018-10-29}}{{cbignore}} (Press conference)</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://spzh.news/en/news/57050-spiker-upc-kp-nash-predstojately--i-arkhijepiskop-i-mitropolit-i-patriarkh|title=UOC KP Spokesman: Our Primate is archbishop, metropolitan, and patriarch|date=27 October 2018|website=spzh.news|language=en|access-date=2018-10-29|quote="Filaret is an "archbishop", a "metropolitan", and a "patriarch". This was announced on October 26 by Spokesman of the UOC KP Eustratiy Zoria during the press conference of Ukrinform "Ukrainian Church on the road to establishing autocephaly"."}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://spzh.news/en/news/56865-zorya-obyasnil-otkuda-v-titule-filareta-vzyalisy-upominanija-pro-lavry-upc|title=Zoria explains why Filaret's title includes references to UOC Lavras|date=22 October 2018|website=spzh.news|language=en|access-date=2018-11-24}}</ref> The fact the full title and the version for interchurch relations mention the titles of "archbishop" and "metropolitan" and not the title of "patriarch", but that the abridged form mentioned only the title of "patriarch" has been confusing for some.<ref name=":20" /><ref name=":3" />  The [[Russian Orthodox Church]] reacted by commenting that this new title was a "farce" and that for them Filaret "was and remains a schismatic".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://mospat.ru/en/2018/10/22/news165617/|title=Metropolitan Hilarion: Filaret Denisenko was and remains a schismatic {{!}} The Russian Orthodox Church|website=mospat.ru|language=en-US|access-date=2018-10-27}}</ref>

== In the OCU ==
On 15 December 2018, the hierarchs of the UAOC decided to dissolve the UAOC, and the hierarchs of the UOC-KP decided to dissolve the UOC-KP. This was done because on the same day the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church, the [[Ukrainian Orthodox Church – Kyiv Patriarchate]], and some members of the [[Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate)]] were going to merge to form the [[Orthodox Church of Ukraine]] (OCU) after a unification council.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rbc.ua/rus/news/kievskiy-patriarhat-uapts-samoraspustilis-1544894232.html|script-title=ru:Киевский патриархат и УАПЦ самораспустились перед Собором|date=15 December 2018|website=РБК-Украина|language=ru|access-date=2018-12-16}}</ref> Filaret was given the title of the "honorary patriarch" of the [[Orthodox Church of Ukraine]].<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|url=https://www.rbc.ua/rus/news/filaret-stal-pochetnym-patriarhom-pravoslavnoy-1544893052.html|script-title=ru:Филарет стал почетным патриархом Православной церкви Украины|date=15 December 2018|website=РБК-Украина|language=ru|access-date=2018-12-16}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.kyivpost.com/ukraine-politics/poroshenko-decides-to-award-hero-of-ukraine-title-to-patriarch-filaret-2.html|title=Poroshenko decides to award 'hero of Ukraine' title to Patriarch Filaret|date=2019-01-11|website=KyivPost|access-date=2019-01-21}}</ref> Volodymyr Burega, Professor and Vice-Rector of the Kyiv Theological Academy, explains this title this way: "in December [2018], no one wanted to aggravate relationships with Patriarch Filaret, since holding the [[Unification council of the Orthodox churches of Ukraine|council]] and [[Autocephaly of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine#Tomos of autocephaly|receiving the Tomos]] were at stake. That is why the [[Unification council of the Orthodox churches of Ukraine|council, which took place on 15 December]], did not clarify the new status of Patriarch Filaret. After the unification council of the OCU, they stated that Filaret was henceforth "honorary patriarch", but what this phrase meant was difficult to understand. Indeed, such status is not stipulated in the Charter of the OCU, adopted on 15 December."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://risu.org.ua/ua/index/monitoring/society_digest/75767/|title=Патриарх Филарет: "прирученный" или "вытесненный"?|last=Burega|first=Volodymyr|date=13 March 2019|website=risu.org.ua|access-date=2019-05-14}}</ref>

On 18 December 2018, Filaret's 90th birthday, 23 January 2019, was voted by the [[Verkhovna Rada|Ukrainian parliament]] as a day of national celebration for the year 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://spzh.news/en/news/58463-deputaty-progolosovali-za-vsenarodnoje-prazdnovanije-jubileja-filareta|title=Deputies vote for the national celebration of Filaret's anniversary|date=18 December 2018|website=spzh.news|language=en|access-date=2018-12-18}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://w1.c1.rada.gov.ua/pls/radan_gs09/ns_golos?g_id=21324|title=Поіменне голосування про проект Постанови про відзначення пам'ятних дат і ювілеїв у 2019 році (№9234) - за основу та в цілому 18.12.2018 13:45|website=w1.c1.rada.gov.ua|access-date=2018-12-18}}</ref>

On 16 January 2019, Filaret asked to be commemorated before [[Epiphanius I of Ukraine|Epiphanius]], the primate of the [[Orthodox Church of Ukraine|OCU]], during [[Divine Liturgies]]. He signed the document asking for it with "Filaret, Patriarch of Kyiv and All Rus'-Ukraine".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://orthodoxie.com/en/patriarch-filaret-of-kyiv-demands-to-be-commemorated-before-metropolitan-epifaniy/|title="Patriarch Filaret of Kyiv" demands to be commemorated before Metropolitan Epifaniy|last=Cazabonne|first=Emma|date=2019-01-22|website=Orthodoxie.com|language=en-US|access-date=2019-01-23}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.romfea.gr/ekklisies-ts/ekklisia-tis-oukranias/26521-o-patriarxis-filaretos-zita-na-mnimoneuetai-protos|script-title=el:Ο «Πατριάρχης» Φιλάρετος ζητά να μνημονεύεται πρώτος!|date=19 January 2019|website=ROMFEA|language=el-gr|access-date=2019-01-23}}</ref> On 20 January 2019, Filaret declared in an interview when asked about his role in the [[Orthodox Church of Ukraine]]: "I am a patriarch, I have been and I remain a patriarch. Today, the Head of the [[Orthodox Church of Ukraine|Local Church]] is [[Epiphanius I of Ukraine|Metropolitan Epifaniy]], but I do not refuse to participate in the development of the Ukrainian Church. I am an unrecognized patriarch for [[Eastern Orthodox Church|world Orthodoxy]], but for [[Ukraine]] I am a patriarch and I remain a patriarch".<ref name=":82"/><ref name="ru.tsn.ua"/>

On 5 February 2019, the Holy Synod of the OCU appointed Filaret the diocesan bishop of Kyiv, except for the [[St. Michael's Golden-Domed Monastery]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://risu.org.ua/en/index/all_news/orthodox/ocu/74607/|title=Filaret to head Kyiv Diocese, Metropolitan Symeon elected Chief Secretary of the OCU, the Synod decides|date=5 February 2019|website=risu.org.ua|access-date=2019-02-09}}</ref>

In an interview published by BBC Ukraine on 1 March 2019, [[Epiphanius I of Ukraine|Epiphanius]] explained the situation around Filaret as follows:<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/ukrainian/features-47408699|script-title=uk:Митрополит Епіфаній: "Ми не маємо права розпалювати в Україні релігійний фронт" |author=Святослав Хоменко |author2=Віталій Червоненко |date=2019-03-01|access-date=2019-03-05|language=uk}}</ref>

{{Blockquote|text="We are in a special situation because we [[Unification council of the Orthodox churches of Ukraine|united three branches of Ukrainian Orthodoxy]]. And His Holiness Patriarch Filaret built the [[Ukrainian Orthodox Church – Kyiv Patriarchate|Kyiv Patriarchate]] for more than a quarter of a century, and thanks to his work, we succeeded. Moscow has especially emphasized that Patriarch Filaret worked throughout his life for the sake of the [[koukoulion]] [i.e. to become Patriarch], that he did not become the Moscow Patriarch, became Patriarch of Kyiv, and would never give up power. We see the opposite, that the patriarch refused, went to the [[Unification council of the Orthodox churches of Ukraine|unification council]]. But nobody brought him to the patriarch's seat. Some want to completely eliminate him so that Patriarch Filaret did not exist at all, but that's wrong. He remains a diocesan bishop, and he will continue to work towards the building of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. There is a leader, but he (Filaret) remains honorary Patriarch. He will continue to have his diocese - the city of Kyiv, but will not generally manage the whole church."|sign=|source=}}

=== Conflict ===
{{Main|Conflict between Filaret and Epiphanius}}
A conflict erupted between Filaret and [[Epiphanius I of Ukraine|Epiphanius]] because of disagreements concerning the model of governance, the management of the diaspora, the name and the statute of the OCU.

According to Filaret, the agreement reached at the unification council was as follows: "the [[Epiphanius I of Ukraine|primate]] is responsible for the external representation of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC), and the patriarch is responsible for the internal church life in Ukraine, but in cooperation with the primate. The primate shall do nothing in the church without the consent of the patriarch. The patriarch chairs the meetings of the Holy Synod and the UOC meetings for the sake of preserving unity, its growth, and affirmation." Filaret considers this agreement has not been fulfilled.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.unian.info/society/10549452-patriarch-filaret-talks-of-split-schools-metropolitan-epifaniy.html|title=Patriarch Filaret talks of split, schools Metropolitan Epifaniy|date=15 May 2019|website=www.unian.info|language=en|access-date=2019-05-15}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://risu.org.ua/ua/index/all_news/orthodox/ocu/75797/|title=Відмова від статусу Патріархату була чисто ситуативною, - почесний Патріарх Філарет виступив із заявою|date=15 May 2019|website=risu.org.ua|access-date=2019-05-15}}</ref>

==Political views==
In March 2014, Filaret publicly opposed the [[Annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation|annexation of Crimea by Russia]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://risu.org.ua/en/index/resourses/church_doc/uockp_doc/55794/|title=Patriarch of Kyiv and All Rus-Ukraine Philaret the Russian annexation of the Crimea|date=19 March 2014|website=risu.org.ua|access-date=30 December 2018}}</ref>

On 5 September 2014, amidst the [[2014 Russian military intervention in Ukraine]],<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-26248275 Ukraine crisis timeline], [[BBC News]]<br />[https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-29095850 Ukraine crisis: Ceasefire is 'largely holding'], [[BBC News]] (6 September 2014)</ref> Filaret held a service to consecrate a memorial cross to the [[List of people killed during Euromaidan#Legacy of the death pro-Euromaidan activists|Heavenly Hundred]].<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2014/12-september/news/world/ukrainian-patriarch-describes-putin-as-the-new-cain|title=Ukrainian patriarch describes Putin as 'the new Cain'|last=Drake|first=Gavin|date=12 September 2014|website=www.churchtimes.co.uk|access-date=2018-11-29}}</ref>   Filaret declared during his service that in the Orthodox church had appeared "among the rulers of this world [...] a real new Cain" who "calls himself a brother to the [[Ukrainian people]], but in fact according to his deeds [...] really became the new [[Cain]], [[Cain and Abel|shedding the brotherly blood]] and entangling the whole world with lies"<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Denysenko|first=Nicholas|title=Intra-Christian Conflict in Ukraine: Historical Foundations and a Theological Proposal|url=https://www.academia.edu/12890997|journal=Academia.edu|language=en|page=18}}</ref> and that "[[Satan]] [[Demonic possession|went into him]], as into [[Judas Iscariot]]".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://risu.org.ua/ua/index/all_news/state/national_religious_question/57559/|title=Патріарх Філарет закликав вірних України молитися за справедливий суд над Путіним – "новим Каїном"|date=5 September 2014|website=risu.org.ua|language=en|access-date=2018-11-29}}</ref> The statement was published on the official website of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church – Kyiv Patriarchate in English,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://archive.cerkva.info/en/messages/5417-new-kain.html|title=New Cain - Ukrainian Orthodox Church – Kyiv Patriarchate (UOC-KP)|last=Патріархії|first=Прес-центр Київської|date=5 September 2014|website=archive.cerkva.info|language=en-gb|access-date=2018-11-29}}</ref> Russian<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://archive.cerkva.info/ru/patrposlania/5417-new-kain.html|script-title=ru:Новый Каин - Украинская Православная Церковь Киевский Патриархат|last=Патріархії|first=Прес-центр Київської|date=5 September 2014|website=archive.cerkva.info|language=ru-ru|access-date=2018-11-29}}</ref> and Ukrainian.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://archive.cerkva.info/uk/patrposlannia/5417-new-kain.html|script-title=uk:Новий Каїн - Українська Православна Церква Київський Патріархат (УПЦ КП)|last=Патріархії|first=Прес-центр Київської|date=5 September 2014|website=archive.cerkva.info|language=uk-ua|access-date=2018-11-29}}</ref> Publications such as ''[[Church Times]]'', ''Cogwriter'', and ''Ecumenical News'' identified Filaret's "new Cain" with [[Russian President]] [[Vladimir Putin]].<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cogwriter.com/news/religious-news/ukrainians-and-separatists-accused-of-war-crimes-orthodox-patriarch-refers-to-putin-as-satan-and-cain/|title=Ukrainians and separatists accused of war crimes; Orthodox Patriarch refers to Putin as 'Cain' and under Satan's action|website=www.cogwriter.com|language=en-US|access-date=2018-11-29}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ecumenicalnews.com/article/putin-possessed-by-satan-says-head-of-ukrainian-orthodox-church-26343|title=Putin 'possessed by Satan,' says head of Ukrainian Orthodox Church|date=8 September 2014|website=www.ecumenicalnews.com|language=en|access-date=2018-11-29}}</ref>

Filaret said that the local population in [[Donbas]] "must pay for their guilt [in rejecting Kyiv's authority] through suffering and blood".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.ft.com/content/a41ed014-c38b-11e9-a8e9-296ca66511c9|title=Putin and the Patriarchs: how geopolitics tore apart the Orthodox church|date=21 August 2019|work=Financial Times}}</ref>

=== COVID-19 ===
In March 2020, during a TV interview, Filaret called the [[COVID-19 pandemic]] a "divine punishment" for same-sex marriage.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-04-22|title=Yet Another Religious Leader Blames Coronavirus On The LGBT+ Community. This Time An LGBT+ Organisation Is Suing Him|url=https://www.mygwork.com/en/my-g-news/yet-another-religious-leader-blames-coronavirus-on-the-lgbt-community-this-time-an-lgbt-organisation-is-suing-him|access-date=2020-09-08|website=myGwork}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-03-22|title=Coronavirus in the world – Filaret says same-sex marriage caused COVID-19 pandemic|url=https://www.corona24.news/u/2020/03/22/coronavirus-in-the-world-filaret-says-same-sex-marriage-caused-covid-19-pandemic.html|access-date=2020-09-08|website=CoRona 24 News|language=en-US}}</ref> He was later sued by [[Kyiv]]-based [[LGBT]]-rights group [[Insight (public organization)|InSight]] for his remarks.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2020-04-13|title=LGBT+ group sues Ukraine religious figure linking coronavirus to gay marriage|language=en|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-ukraine-lgbt-idUSL8N2BI6C7|access-date=2020-09-08}}</ref> Early September 2020, it was announced that Filaret himself had been tested positive for COVID-19 and admitted to hospital.<ref>{{Cite magazine |author=Ewan Palmer |date=2020-09-08 |title=Church leader who blamed coronavirus on gay marriage contracts COVID-19 |url=https://www.newsweek.com/patriarch-filaret-coronavirus-gay-marriage-ukraine-1530261 |access-date=2020-09-08 |magazine=Newsweek |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-09-07|title=Religious leader who blamed gay marriage for coronavirus now has coronavirus|url=https://metro.co.uk/2020/09/07/religious-leader-who-blamed-gay-marriage-for-coronavirus-now-has-coronavirus-13236170/|access-date=2020-09-08|website=Metro|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Villarreal|first=Daniel|date=September 8, 2020|title=Ukrainian church leader who blamed COVID-19 on gay marriage tests positive for virus|work=NBC news|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/ukrainian-church-leader-who-blamed-covid-19-gay-marriage-tests-n1239528|access-date=September 12, 2020}}</ref>

In an interview released in March 2020 to the Ukraine Channel 4, he declared that the Holy Eucharist could be administrated from one spoon, because it is impossible to get viruses from the gloriously resurrected Body of Jesus Christ God.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ukraine-church-leader-who-called-coronavirus-punishment-for-evil-of-same-sex-marriage-has-covid-19/ | title = Church leader who called coronavirus punishment for "evil" of same-sex marriage has COVID-19 | date = September 9, 2020 | work = [[CBS News]] | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200910042930/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ukraine-church-leader-who-called-coronavirus-punishment-for-evil-of-same-sex-marriage-has-covid-19/ | archive-date = September 10, 2020 | url-status = live}}</ref>

== Awards ==

* Order "For intellectual courage" of the independent cultural magazine ''I'' (2018)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://espreso.tv/article/2018/12/26/patriarkh_filaret_my_otrymaly_peremogu_pid_stalingradom_ale_do_berlina_sche_daleko|title=Патріарх Філарет: Ми отримали перемогу під Сталінградом, але до Берліна ще далеко|date=26 December 2018|website=espreso.tv|access-date=2019-01-09}}</ref>

=== State awards ===

==== Ukraine ====
* {{MOL}} (2009)
* The [[Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise]] 1st (2008), 2nd (2006), 3rd (2003), 4th (2001) and 5th (1999) Cl.
* The [[Cross of Ivan Mazepa]] (2011)
*[[Hero of Ukraine]] (2019)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.president.gov.ua/documents/32019-25874|script-title=uk:УКАЗ ПРЕЗИДЕНТА УКРАЇНИ №3/2019|date=8 January 2019|website=Офіційне інтернет-представництво Президента України|language=uk|access-date=2019-01-09}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.president.gov.ua/news/prezident-prisvoyiv-patriarhu-filaretu-zvannya-geroj-ukrayin-52422|script-title=uk:Президент присвоїв Патріарху Філарету звання Герой України|date=8 January 2019|website=Офіційне інтернет-представництво Президента України|language=uk|access-date=2019-01-08}}</ref>

==== USSR ====
* The [[Order of Friendship of Peoples]] (1980)
* The [[Order of the Red Banner of Labour]] (1988)

==List of bishop ordinations==
''full list until 2010''<ref>[https://www.religion.in.ua/main/oficiyno/2742-shhodo-roli-patriarxa-filareta-v-arxiyerejskix.html Щодо ролі патріарха Філарета в архієрейських хіротоніях]. www.religion.in.ua. 8 December 2009</ref>

===As a supporting archiereus===
* Vladimir (Kotlyarov) on 30 December 1962 as Bishop of Zvenigorod
* Antonius (Vakaryk) on 12 February 1965 as Bishop of Smolensk and Dorogobuzh
* Boris (Skvortsov) on 21 February 1965 as Bishop of Ryazan and Kasimov
* Melchizedek (Lebedev) on 17 June 1965 as Bishop of Vologda and Velikiy Ustyug
* Philaret (Vakhromeyev) on 24 October 1965 as Bishop of Tikhvin
* Joanathan (Kopylovych) on 28 November 1965 as Bishop of Tegel
* John (Snychov) on 12 December 1965 as Bishop of Syzran
* [[Juvenal (Poyarkov)]] on 26 December 1965 as Bishop of Zaraisk
* [[Irenaeus (Susemihl)]] on 30 January 1966 as Bishop of Munich
* Dionysius (Lukin) on 20 March 1966 as Bishop of Rotterdam
* [[Volodymyr Sabodan|Volodymyr (Sabodan)]] on 9 July 1966 as Bishop of Zvenigorod
* Hermogenes (Orekhov) on 25 November 1966 as Bishop of Podolsk
* Theodosius (Dykun) on 4 June 1967 as Bishop of Pereyaslav-Khmelnytskyi
* Sabbas (Babynets) on 30 March 1969 as Bishop of Pereyaslav-Khmelnytskyi
* Macarius (Svystun) on 7 June 1970 as Bishop of Uman
* Maximus (Krokha) on 26 March 1972 as Bishop of Argentina and South America
* Victorinus (Belyaev) on 3 June 1973 as Bishop of Perm and Solikamsk
* Platon (Udovenko) on 16 December 1973 as Bishop of Argentina and South America
* Job (Tivonyuk) on 3 January 1975 as Bishop of Zaraisk
* [[Patriarch Kirill of Moscow|Kirill (Gundyayev)]] on 14 March 1976 as Bishop of Vyborg
* Gleb (Smirnov) on 9 May 1976 as Bishop of Oryol and Bryansk
* Valentine (Mishchuk) on 25 July 1976 as Bishop of Ufa and Sterlitamak
* Nicanor (Yukhymyuk) on 30 November 1979 as Bishop of Podolsk

===As a leading archiereus===
* Nicholas (Bychkovsky) on 28 July 1971 as Bishop of Kursk and Belgorod
* Barlaam (Ilyuschenko) on 22 October 1972 as Bishop of Pereyaslav-Khmelnytskyi
* Agathangelos (Savvin) on 16 November 1975 as Bishop of Vinnytsia and Bratslav
* Sebastian (Pylypchuk) on 16 October 1978 as Bishop of Kirovohrad and Mykolaiv
* [[Ioann (Bodnarchuk)]] on 23 October 1978 as Bishop of Zhytomyr and Ovruch
* Lazar (Shvets) on 18 April 1980 as Bishop of Argentina and South America
* Antonius (Moskalenko) on 13 October 1986 as Bishop of Pereyaslav-Khmelnytskyi
* Palladius (Shyman) on 8 February 1987 as Bishop of Pereyaslav-Khmelnytskyi
* Marcus (Petrovtsy) on 28 July 1988 as Bishop of Kremenets
* Joannicius (Kobzyev) on 13 December 1988 as Bishop of Slovyansk
* Joanathan (Yeletskikh) on 22 April 1989 as Bishop of Pereyaslav-Khmelnytskyi
* Euthymius (Shutak) on 28 July 1989 as Bishop of Mukachevo and Uzhhorod
* Basilius (Vasyltsev) on 1 October 1989 as Bishop of Kirovohrad and Mykolaiv
* Bartholomeus (Vashchuk) on 24 February 1990 as Bishop of Volhynia and Rivne
* Niphont (Solodukha) on 31 March 1990 as Bishop of Khmelnytskyi and Kamianets-Podilskyi
* [[Andriy (Horak)|Andrew (Horak)]] on 18 April 1990 as Bishop of Lviv and Drohobych
* Gleb (Savin) on 2 August 1990 as Bishop of Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhia
* Basilius (Zlatolinsky) on 2 December 1990 as Bishop of Simferopol and Crimea
* [[Onufriy (Berezovsky)|Onuphrius (Berezovsky)]] on 9 December 1990 as Bishop of Chernivtsi and Bucovina
* Jacob (Panchuk) on 14 December 1990 as Bishop of Pochaiv
* Sergius (Hensytsky) on 17 February 1991 as Bishop of Kremenets
* Hilarion (Shukalo) on 29 September 1991 as Bishop of Ivano-Frankivsk and Kolomyia
* Alypius (Pohribnyak) on 6 October 1991 as Bishop of Donetsk and Luhansk
* [[Spyrydon (Babskyi)]] on 7 June 1992 as Bishop of Pereyaslav-Khmelnytskyi
* Barsanuphius (Mazurak) on 8 June 1992 as Bishop of Ivano-Frankivsk and Kolomyia
* [[Anthony (Masendych)|Antonius (Masendych)]] on 9 September 1992 as Bishop of Pereyaslav and Sicheslav
* [[Volodymyr (Romaniuk)]] on 10 September 1992 as Bishop of Bila Tserkva
* Sophronius (Vlasov) on 15 September 1992 as Bishop of Vinnytsia and Bratslav
* Roman (Blashchuk) on 16 September 1992 as Bishop of Rivne and Ostroh
* Seraphim (Verzun) on 25 September 1992 as Bishop of Zhytomyr and Ovruch
* Nestor (Kulish) on 15 November 1992 as Bishop of Cherkasy and Chyhyryn
* Polycarp (Huts) on 10 April 1993 as Bishop of Donetsk and Luhansk
* Alexius (Tsaruk) on 7 July 1993 as Bishop of Mykolaiv
* Volodymyr (Ladyka) on 13 March 1993 as Bishop of Vinnytsia and Bratslav
* Alexander (Reshetnyak) on 16 January 1994 as Bishop of Bila Tserkva
* Daniel (Chokalyuk) on 23 January 1994 as Bishop of Vyshhorod
* Hadrian (Staryna) on 6 February 1994 as Bishop of Zaporizhia and Dnipropetrovsk
* Izyaslav (Karha) on 11 September 1994 as Bishop of Nikopol
* [[Feodosiy Petsyna|Theodosius (Petsyna)]] on 4 December 1994 as Bishop of Drohobych and Sambir
* Barlaam (Pylypyshyn) on 14 December 1994 as Bishop of Chernihiv and Sumy
* Joasaph (Shibayev) on 19 February 1995 as Bishop of Belgorod and Oboyan
* Baruch (Tischenkov) on 23 February 1994 as Bishop of Tobolsk and Yeniseysk
* Job (Pavlyshyn) on 11 May 1995 as Bishop of Kremenets and Zbarazh
* Gregorius (Kachan) on 10 October 1995 as Bishop of Melitopol
* Gerontius (Khovansky) on 24 March 1996 as Bishop of Sumy and Okhtyrka
* Ioann (Zinovyev) on 18 July 1996 as Bishop of Donetsk and Luhansk
* Antonius (Makhota) on 21 July 1996 as Bishop of Simferopol and Crimea
* Volodymyr (Polishchuk) on 23 February 1997 as Bishop of Ivano-Frankivsk and Kolomyia
* Joasaph (Vasylykiv) on 6 April 1997 as Bishop of Donetsk and Luhansk
* Pancratius (Tarnavsky) on 27 July 1997 as Bishop of Vinnytsia and Bratslav
* Christophorus (Sitas) on 2 October 1997 as Bishop of Surozh
* Nikon (Kalember) on 12 October 1997 as Bishop of Kitsman and Zastavna
* Damian (Zamarayev) on 19 October 1997 as Bishop of Kherson and Taurida
* Peter (Petrus) on 30 October 1997 as Bishop of Lviv and Yavoriv
* [[Yuriy Yurchyk]] on 14 May 1999 as George, Bishop of Donetsk and Luhansk
* Timotheus (Koutalianos) on 26 March 2000 as Bishop of Korsun
* Demetrius (Rudyuk) on 16 July 2000 as Bishop of Pereyaslav-Khmelnytskyi
* Clemence (Kushch) on 23 July 2000 as Bishop of Simferopol and Crimea
* Michael (Zinkevych) on 22 October 2000 as Bishop of Sumy and Okhtyrka
* Flavian (Pasichnyk) on 5 November 2000 as Bishop of Kharkiv and Bohodukhiv
* Paisius (Dmokhovsky) on 30 September 2001 as Bishop of Odesa and Balta
* Stephan (Bilyak) on 19 May 2002 as Bishop of Boryspil
* [[Eusebius Politylo|Eusebius (Politylo)]] on 7 July 2002 as Bishop of Poltava and Kremenchuk
* Sergius (Horobtsov) on 14 December 2002 as Bishop of Slovyansk
* Vsevolod (Matviyevsky) on 28 March 2003 as Bishop of Luhansk and Starobilsk
* Ioann (Yaremenko) on 30 March 2003 as Bishop of Cherkasy and Chyhyryn
* Cyril (Mykhailyuk) on 3 August 2003 as Bishop of Uzhhorod and Zakarpattia
* [[Mefodiy (Sribnyak)|Methodius (Sribnyak)]] on 6 June 2004 as Bishop of Sumy and Okhtyrka
* Theodosius (Paikush) on 28 July 2004 as Bishop of Chernihiv and Nizhyn
* Chrysostom (Bakomitros) on 14 May 2005 as Bishop of Chersonesus
* Philaret (Pancu) on 31 July 2005 as Bishop of Făleşti and Eastern Moldova
* Onuphrius (Khavruk) on 30 October 2005 as Bishop of Derman
* Michael (Bondarchuk) on 1 January 2006 as Bishop of Poltava and Kremenchuk
* Nestor (Pysyk) on 5 March 2006 as Bishop of Ternopil and Buchach
* Theodore (Bubnyuk) on 12 November 2006 as Bishop of Poltava and Kremenchuk
* Sebastian (Voznyak) on 14 December 2006 as Bishop of Chernihiv and Nizhyn
* Matheus (Shevchuk) on 17 December 2006 as Bishop of Drohobych and Sambir
* Hilarion (Protsyk) on 14 May 2008 as Bishop of Chernihiv and Nizhyn
* Eustratius (Zorya) on 25 May 2008 as Bishop of Vasylkiv
* Peter (Moskalyov) on 13 December 2008 as Bishop of Valuiky
* Marcus (Levkiv) on 1 February 2009 as Bishop of Kirovohrad and Holovanivsk
* Paul (Kravchuk) on 30 March 2009 as Bishop of Ternopil and Terebovlia
* [[Epiphanius I of Ukraine|Epiphanius (Dumenko)]] on 15 November 2009 as Bishop of Vyshhorod
* Simeon (Zinkevych) on 21 November 2009 as Bishop of Dnipropetrovsk and Pavlohrad
* Tycho (Petranyuk) on 22 November 2009 as Bishop of Luhansk and Starobilsk

== Notes ==
{{notelist}}

== See also ==
{{Commons category|Philaret (Denysenko)|Philaret}}
* [[History of Christianity in Ukraine]]
* [[List of metropolitans and patriarchs of Kyiv]]
* [[Conflict between Filaret and Epiphanius]]

==References==
<references />

== External links ==

*[https://web.archive.org/web/20030916003900/http://risu.org.ua/content.php?page_id=48&l=en Patriarch of Kyiv and all Rus-Ukraine Filaret] at the [[Institute of Religion and Society]] of the [[Ukrainian Catholic University]]
*{{in lang|ru}} [http://www.religio.ru/dosje/20/23_print.html Filaret (Denysenko)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070926225045/http://www.religio.ru/dosje/20/23_print.html |date=2007-09-26 }} in [http://www.religio.ru/news/index.html The World of Religions] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080203015638/http://religio.ru/news/index.html |date=2008-02-03 }}.

{{S-start}}
{{S-rel|eo}}
{{succession box
| title = [[List of Metropolitans and Patriarchs of Kiev and all Rus' Ukraine|Patriarch of Kyiv and all Rus-Ukraine]]  <br/> ([[Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kyivan Patriarchate]])
| before = Position reestablished from the Orthodox Church of Ukraine 
| after = Incumbent
| years = 2019–present
}}
{{succession box
| title = Honorary Patriarch <br/> ([[Orthodox Church of Ukraine]])
| before = N/A
| after = N/A
| years = 2018–2019
}}
{{succession box
| title = [[List of Metropolitans and Patriarchs of Kiev and all Rus' Ukraine|Patriarch of Kyiv and all Rus-Ukraine]]  <br/> ([[Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kyivan Patriarchate]])
| before = [[Volodymyr (Romaniuk)]]
| after = Position disestablished;  Merged into the [[Orthodox Church of Ukraine]]
| years = 1995–2018
}}
{{succession box
| title = Metropolitan of Kyiv and all Ukraine <br/> {{small|(Ukrainian Orthodox Church)}}<br />([[Russian Orthodox Church]])
| before = {{small|(reorganization))}}
| after = [[Volodymyr Sabodan|Volodymyr (Sabodan)]]
| years = 1990–1992
}}
{{succession box
| title = (Locum tenens) patriarch of Moscow and all Russia <br/> ([[Russian Orthodox Church]])
| before = [[Patriarch Pimen I of Moscow|Pimen (Izvekov)]]
| after = [[Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow|Aleksiy (Ridiger)]]
| years = 1990
}}
{{succession box
| title = Metropolitan of Kyiv and Galicia  <br/> {{small|(Patriarchal Exarch of all Ukraine)}}<br />([[Russian Orthodox Church]])
| before = [[Joasaph Leliukhin|Joasaph (Leliukhin)]] <br/> {{small|(interim Alipiy (Khotovitskiy))}}
| after = {{small|(reorganization)}}
| years = 1966–1990
}}
{{succession box
| title = Bishop of Dmitrov  <br/> {{small|(vicar of Moscow Eparchy)}}<br />([[Russian Orthodox Church]])
| before = Kiprian (Zernov)
| after = [[Philaret (Vakhromeyev)]]
| years = 1964–1966
}}
{{succession box
| title = Bishop of Vienna and Austrian <br/> ([[Russian Orthodox Church]])
| before = Sergiy (Korolev)
| after = Varfolomei (Gondarovskiy)
| years = 1962&ndash;1964
}}
{{succession box
| title = Locum tenens governor of Middle-European Exarchate <br />([[Russian Orthodox Church]])
| before = Ioann (Vendland)
| after = Sergiy (Larin)
| years = 1962
}}
{{succession box
| title = Bishop of Luga <br/> {{small|(vicar of Leningrad Eparchy)}}<br />([[Russian Orthodox Church]])
| before = Aleksiy (Konoplev)
| after = Nikon (Fomichev)
| years = 1962
}}
{{S-end}}

{{Primates of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate)}}
{{Metropolitans of Kyiv}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Filaret}}
[[Category:1929 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Donetsk Oblast]]
[[Category:20th-century Eastern Orthodox bishops]]
[[Category:21st-century Eastern Orthodox bishops]]
[[Category:Metropolitans of Kiev and all Rus' (Patriarchate of Moscow)]]
[[Category:Russian Orthodox clergy who spied for the Soviet Union]]
[[Category:Ukrainian spies for the Soviet Union]]
[[Category:Primates of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Kyiv Patriarchate)]]
[[Category:Christian Peace Conference members]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Cross of Ivan Mazepa]]
[[Category:Primates of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate)]]
[[Category:People excommunicated by the Russian Orthodox Church]]
[[Category:Recipients of the title of Hero of Ukraine]]
[[Category:Bishops of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Honorary Diploma of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Order of Liberty (Ukraine)]]
[[Category:Moscow Theological Academy alumni]]