Bishops' Council of UOC-KP declares pressure on Patriarch Filaret and appeals to Zelensky

The Bishops’ Council of the UOC-KP has issued a statement expressing extreme concern about the health and isolation of its 96-year-old leader, Filaret. The hierarchs claim that he is under pressure and have appealed to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for assistance.

According to the source, based on the results of a video conference of six hierarchs of the UOC-KP, the current situation around Filaret Denisenko is regarded as critical. The statement refers to his serious health condition and complete isolation from the hierarchs and clergy of the UOC-KP. The authors of the appeal make serious accusations, stating that «the patriarch could have been drugged with psychotropic drugs and forcibly taken to a meeting with the leadership of the OCU, with which the Kyiv Patriarchate has tense relations.»

According to the Bishops’ Council, Filaret was forced to sign an unknown document in the absence of representatives of the UOC-KP leadership. «We declare that we will not recognize any document that was allegedly signed by His Holiness Patriarch Filaret without the presence of the bishops and clergy of our church,» the statement reads categorically.

At the end of their statement, the signatories directly addressed Volodymyr Zelenskyy. They ask the head of state to assist in the renewal of the state registration of the UOC-KP statute, which, in their opinion, is necessary to protect the rights and interests of their church structure.

Earlier, the head of the Sumy Diocese of the UOC-KP, Nikodim Kobzar, issued a statement in which he accused Filaret Denisenko’s blood relatives of his abduction and collusion with the OCU. According to the statement, the head of the UOC-KP was taken to St. Michael’s Golden-Domed Monastery under the influence of psychotropic substances to sign documents. The hierarch claims that this was done against the will of the head of the UOC-KP and declares his firm intention to preserve the «Kyiv Patriarchate».