This episode by Vitaliy Portnikov is dedicated to the memory of Honorary Patriarch Filaret of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church – a pivotal religious and political figure in modern Ukraine. Filaret's life spanned nearly a century, during which he was both a witness and a participant in key church and state events.
Filaret began his service when the Kyiv Metropolis was under Soviet control, and the church itself functioned as a state tool. Through his leadership and openness to dialogue, church life in Ukraine was notably different from that in Russia. Rising to the top ranks of the Russian Orthodox Church, after Ukraine gained independence, Filaret openly advocated for the autocephaly of the Ukrainian Church, laying the foundation for its future independence.
Despite conflicts with Moscow and part of the clergy, his revolutionary stance led to the formation of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kyiv Patriarchate. This triggered unity among Ukrainian faithful both inside the country and abroad, as well as set the stage for granting the Tomos and recognition of the OCU by the Ecumenical Patriarchate. Filaret's role in these processes was crucial: he continued to fight for church independence even as he became a minority voice.
Filaret’s influence was felt not only in inter-church dialogues but also in society’s consolidation during critical periods, such as the Maidan. His legacy helped establish a distinct and independent spiritual tradition among Ukrainians. Despite mixed assessments of his role, Patriarch Filaret left the foundation for the development of the independent Orthodox Church of Ukraine, which has become a significant element of Ukrainian statehood.
Thanks to such personalities and their decisions, modern Ukraine has its own church, capable of resisting external influence and preserving its spiritual identity. Filaret’s memory endures as a symbol of the church and political struggle for independence in the country’s history.
