The Honorary Patriarch of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, Filaret, has passed away at the age of 98, - Ukrainian media report this citing Metropolitan Epifaniy of Kyiv and All Ukraine.

"Today, deep sorrow and grief fill my heart, as well as the hearts of many Ukrainians, because the earthly life of His Holiness Patriarch Filaret has come to an end," noted Epifaniy.

The head of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine called on the entire Ukrainian flock to pray for the soul of the newly departed Patriarch Filaret.

On March 9, it became known that Filaret had been transferred to a medical facility in Kyiv due to a deterioration in his health. Ukrainian media write that after Ukraine gained independence, Patriarch Filaret fought for the restoration of ecclesiastical autonomy for Ukraine and the granting of autocephaly to the Orthodox Church in Ukraine. Before the receipt of the Tomos of autocephaly for the Ukrainian Church, he led the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kyiv Patriarchate. In 2018, after the Council of Unification and the creation of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, Filaret became its Honorary Patriarch.