Patriarch Awarded Order of Yaroslav the Wise

Last Friday hierarch of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kyiv Patriarchate, Patriarch of Kyiv and All Rus Filaret marked his 75th birthday. Patriarch Filaret has occupied the Patriarch seat of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in 1995. Through these years, the Patriarch has aimed all his remarkable energy, knowledge, and experience to achieve one goal, creating a globally recognized canonical single independent church in Ukraine. The UOC KP, headed by Patriarch Filaret, has come a long and complicated way. Today it is one of the world’s biggest churches supported by over ten million Ukrainians. In terms of the number of its supporters, according to sociological data, it is Ukraine’s strongest church. It includes 29 eparchies, 3500 parishes, six seminaries, the Spiritual Academy, and Theological Faculty of the University. Press secretary of the head of the State Olena Hromnytska told Interfax Ukraine that Leonid Kuchma visited Patriarch Filaret at his residence and decorated him with the Order of Yaroslav the Wise, second degree. “You deserve this for your labors,” the President said.

The Day’s editors offer their hearty greetings to the Most Holy Patriarch, wishing him long years, strong health, and further success in building the independent Local Ukrainian Orthodox Church.