Primate of the OCU Epifaniy elevated the ruling Bishop of the Donetsk diocese Sergiy (Horobtsov) to the rank of Metropolitan.
Metropolitan Epifaniy announced this on the same day, February 3, after a Liturgy at St. Michael's Golden-Domed Cathedral on the occasion of the second anniversary of the enthronement of the Primate of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine.
"Taking into account the long-term service for the benefit of the OCU, providing a special example of the service of Archbishop Sergiy of Donetsk to be elevated to the rank of Metropolitan," the first hierarch said.
The Primate of the OCU noted that Archbishop Sergiy has to provide pastoral service in special conditions and wished him many more years to develop the Diocese of Donetsk.
"So that we can gather together in Donetsk to celebrate our victory. We will certainly overcome the aggressor, and the victory will be ours," the Primate of the OCU stressed.
Metropolitan Sergiy (Horobtsov) was born on July 27, 1972, in Yenakiyevo, Donetsk region.
On September 19, 1993, he was ordained a deacon at St. Volodymyr's Cathedral in Kyiv.
On December 4, 1993, he was ordained a priest.
In 1999, he graduated from the Kyiv Theological Seminary and entered the Kyiv Theological Academy.
In September 2001, he was tonsured as a monk.
On May 19, 2002, he was consecrated bishop of Slavyansk and appointed Vicar of the Donetsk diocese.
On November 26, 2008, he was appointed administrator of the Donetsk diocese with the title of Bishop of Donetsk and Mariupol