Episcopal consecration of Bishop Nykodym (Kulygin) of OCU took place in Kyiv
On December 4, 2019, Metropolitan Epifaniy of Kyiv and all Ukraine led the divine Liturgy in St. Michael's Golden-Domed Cathedral, during which hegumen Nykodym (Kulygin) was ordained Bishop of Henichesk.
“Beloved brother in Christ! Now it is entrusted to you to be the vicar Bishop of the Diocese of Kherson that the work you promoted its development and strengthening so that you inspired both priests, and laymen with your model pious life, the pious performance of divine services, doctrines and a sermon, wise discretion of the current affairs. In your work, you will have guidance from experienced hierarchs and fraternal support from all of us. Be a good shepherd to those who are entrusted to your care - a merciful but just one.
Therefore, we give you this rod as a symbol of your pastorate... and we wish you fruitful service in the words of the instruction of Christ the Saviour: "So let your light Shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Heavenly Father" (Matt. 5: 16),” Metropolitan Epifaniy addressed the new Bishop. This is reported by the press service of the OCU.
Biography:
Bishop Nykodym of Henichesk (Kulygin Viktor Viktorovych), was born December 10, 1968, in the city of Oleshki (former Soviet name Tsyurupinsk), Kherson region into the family of a military serviceman.
His father's service took place in Western Ukraine, in Ivano-Frankivsk region, where he spent his school years from 1976 to 1986. He graduated from school with a gold medal, participated in the Republican Olympiads in mathematics.
In 1986 he entered the Moscow Institute of physics and technology, which in 1992 he graduated with a red diploma and a recommendation to continue his studies in graduate school.
Since 1988 at the end of military service of the father the family returned to the Kherson region.
After graduation from the MPTI, he returned to Kherson in 1992 and performed the ministry of subdeacon to the then Bishop Hilarion (Shukalo) of Kherson and Tavria.
He was ordained to the diaconate by Bishop Hilarion on August 15, 1993, and by the same to the holy priesthood on February 27, 1994.
He received theological education at the Kyiv Theological Seminary, where he was granted a diploma in 1997.
He kept the office records at the Diocese of Kherson and was the Secretary of the Diocese.
From 1997 to 2003, he was a member of the clergy of the Donetsk diocese of the UOC (MP), where he served in the Cathedral, was head of the office and personal Secretary to Metropolitan Hilarion (Shukalo).
In 2005, he returned to the Diocese of Kherson, where from 2007 to the beginning of 2019 he served in the Holy Spirit Cathedral of the UOC (MP).
In the winter of 2019, he appealed to the Administration of the Diocese of Kherson asking to join the Orthodox Church of Ukraine.
Since then, he served in the Cathedral of the Meeting of the Lord, beside Archbishop Damian and served as the press Secretary of the Diocese.
Since October 2019 he became a resident of St. Michael's Golden-Domed Monastery in Kyiv, on November 15 he took monastic vows with the name Nykodym (in honor of St. Nicodemus, the Holy Bread-Maker of the Kyiv Caves).
On November 19, out of necessity and taking into account the wishes of the temporary administrator of the Diocese of Kherson, Archbishop Klyment, Archbishop at rest Damian (Zamaraev), the former Kherson and Tavria, as well as the appeal of the clergy of the Diocese Kherson, the Holy Synod decided to appoint the vicar Bishop of the Kherson diocese with the title "of Henichesk". By secret ballot, hegumen Nykodym was elected Bishop of Henichesk, vicar of the Diocese of Kherson.
On December 4, 2019, he was ordained a Bishop by the Council of hierarchs headed by his Beatitude Metropolitan Epifaniy of Kyiv and all Ukraine at the divine Liturgy in St. Michael's Golden-Domed Cathedral.
