UOC-KP Dioceses Accuse OCU of Coercing Filaret's Visit
Dioceses of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church – Kyiv Patriarchate (UOC-KP) have asserted that the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU) provoked and pressured Patriarch Filaret Denysenko into signing a document that dissolved the Kyiv Patriarchate.
Claims of Forced Visit and Abduction
On November 6, 2025, several UOC-KP dioceses declared that Filaret’s recent meeting with Epifaniy Dumenko of the OCU was not voluntary but was undertaken under coercion and described as an “abduction.”
“No provocations from the OCU will be accepted,”
stated the Odesa–Balta Diocese, emphasizing that the clergy and faithful “will defend their Primate to the end.”
Official Statements and Responses
- The Odesa–Balta Diocese denounced the so-called claims that Filaret “voluntarily surrendered” to Epifaniy as journalistic fabrications lacking legal foundation.
- The ruling hierarch of the Sumy Diocese, temporarily overseeing Chernihiv, Kharkiv, and Poltava dioceses, also issued an official message reaffirming these accusations.
Filaret’s Spiritual Testament and Health Concerns
The statement authors reminded the public that Filaret Denysenko, “in sound mind and clear memory,” had left a spiritual testament, which they claim the OCU is trying to undermine through individuals close to him.
The Sumy Diocese hierarch reported a sharp decline in Filaret’s health since late August, noting his absence from public broadcasts. Additionally, his close relatives have limited access to him by clergy members.
“They will not succeed”
in undermining Filaret’s testament, the UOC-KP dioceses proclaimed.
Author's summary: UOC-KP dioceses claim that Patriarch Filaret's meeting with Epifaniy was forced under pressure, reject narratives of voluntary surrender, and express concerns over his health and restricted access.