Patriarch Dymytrii of UAOC dies

KYIV - As The Weekly was going to press, information was received that Patriarch Dymytrii, leader of the Kyiv-based Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church died on February 25 at 2 a.m. in Lviv, where he was spending the winter months with his son. He was 85 years old.

The UAOC Chancery in Kyiv said the patriarch died in his sleep. In recent years, declining health and heart problems had slowed the vigorous Church leader. Nonetheless as recently as last month he had presided over the Patriarchal Council that controls UAOC affairs.

Patriarch Dymytrii was elected head of the UAOC by a vote of the Second All-Ukrainian Sobor on September 7, 1993, after the death of Patriarch Mstyslav earlier that year. He was enthroned on October 14, 1993.

In his final will and testament Patriarch Dymytrii asked that the UAOC maintain a close working relationship with the diaspora portion of the Church in the U.S. and asked that Metropolitan Constantine, the leader of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the U.S.A. - to whom he referred as "metropolitan of the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church" and "successor to Patriarch Mstyslav" - become the leader of the worldwide UAOC.

Funeral services for Patriarch Dymytrii will take place on February 29 at Ss. Peter and Paul Church in Lviv.

Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, February 27, 2000, No. 9, Vol. LXVIII

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