UOC-KP announces election of new “patriarch” to succeed Filaret
New head of the UOC-KP Nikodim Kobzar. Photo: Kobzar's Facebook
On March 21, 2026, the day after the death of Filaret Denysenko, the UOC Kyiv Patriarchate held an election for a new “patriarch.” This was announced by Ioasaf Shibaev, the “Metropolitan of Bilhorod and Oboyan.”
According to him, the new head of the UOC-KP is “Archbishop of Sumy” Nikodim Kobzar. The vote was held online because police had blocked St. Volodymyr’s Cathedral of the Kyiv Patriarchate and were not allowing UOC-KP representatives inside.
“The election took place by the only proper canonical means – through the free expression of the bishops’ will. This is the sole canonical basis for electing a primate. As for any discrepancies with certain by-laws of bureaucratic officialdom, they have nothing to do with the Church’s internal, grace-filled life. All the more so since the civil charter of the Kyiv Patriarchate was annulled by officials; it does not legally exist, and canonically it never did,” Shibaev wrote.
According to him, the registration of a new charter for the UOC-KP is the top priority for the newly elected head.
Earlier, the UOJ reported that, according to Nikodim, the OCU had abducted and appropriated Filaret’s body.
Read also
Zelensky says 9.5M Ukrainians expected to return home from abroad
Zelensky stated that 9.5 million Ukrainians who left abroad are expected to return home to rebuild the country.
German theologian criticizes Ukrainian authorities' pressure on UOC
German theologian Regina Elsner has said that pressure from the authorities on the Ukrainian Orthodox Church places an additional heavy burden on believers during the war.
Poland bans entry to Lviv official over SS Galicia and UPA glorification
Polish Foreign Minister initiates entry ban on Lviv Regional Council deputy who proposed declaring 2027 the Year of the UPA.
OCU award winners stage provocations at UOC court hearings, media report
Rallies outside courts hearing UOC cases are organized by activists who received awards from Dumenko.
Khust Eparchy priest who shot people in Vyshkovo banned from ministry
The Khust Eparchy of the UOC has notified police that it has banned from ministry a priest suspected of killing three people in Vyshkovo, Transcarpathia.
Metropolitan Onuphry congratulates Georgia on 1,700 years of Christianity
The Primate of the UOC sent a message to Patriarch Shio III on the anniversary of Christianity becoming the state religion in Georgia.