UOC canonizes Venerable Philaret, the Confessor of Zverinets

Venerable Philaret. Photo: UOC

On October 23, 2024, the Holy Synod of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church canonized Archimandrite Philaret (Kochubei), the last abbot of the Kyiv-Zverinets Hermitage, reports the UOC press service.

Venerable Philaret, the Confessor of Zverinets, became renowned for his faith and resilience under persecution of the Church in the Soviet Union.

Archimandrite Philaret was arrested in 1931 by the Kyiv GPU on charges of anti-Soviet agitation. Following his arrest, he was sentenced to exile in Kazakhstan, which was later changed to confinement in a labor camp. He spent his final years in harsh conditions in the camp and ended his earthly journey in a mass grave near Arkhangelsk. The exact date of his death remains unknown.

The commemoration day of Venerable Philaret will be observed on December 14, the day of his monastic tonsure and the issuance of his final sentence, which marked the last stage of his life, characterized by his confession of faith.

As previously reported by the UOJ, the UOC Synod also canonized Blessed John Pokhodenchyk.

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