Overview
- Bishops of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church–Kyiv Patriarchate on March 21 elected Archbishop Nikodim (Volodymyr Kobzar) as patriarch, with the act of election published alongside video of the vote.
- In a joint statement, the bishops affirmed they will preserve the Kyiv Patriarchate as an independent institution with no plans to join other church structures.
- The Orthodox Church of Ukraine announced on March 20 that Patriarch Filaret had died, and public farewells began that evening at Kyiv’s St. Michael’s Golden-Domed Monastery.
- The funeral is scheduled for March 22 at St. Volodymyr’s Cathedral, with prayers and readings continuing at St. Michael’s until Sunday morning.
- President Volodymyr Zelensky offered condolences and, along with other senior officials, visited the farewell, as church leaders highlighted Filaret’s role in the 2018 unification council and the tomos of autocephaly.