Metropolitan Onufriy Elected Head of Ukrainian Orthodox Church (update)
The Council of Bishops of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarcahte elected its Primate. The present Locum Tenens of the Kyiv Cathedra Metropolitan Onufriy of Chernivtsi and Bukovyna will lead this Church.
The results of the elections of Metropolitan of Kyiv and All Ukraine were announced on August 13, the same day the elections started. Forty-eight bishops of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church out of 78 voted for this candidate.
There were two rounds. After the first round, the leaders were Metropolitan Onufriy of Chernivtsi and Bukovyna with 36 votes, Metropolitan Anthony of Boryspil and Brovary with 24 votes, and Metropolitan of Vinnytsia and Mohyliv-Podilsky Simeon.
Biography
Permanent member of the Holy Synod of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church
Born: November 5, 1944, in Korytne village, Vashkovsky district of Chernivtsi region in Ukraine to a priest’s family.
In 1964 he graduated from Chernivtsi Technical School and worked in a construction company, in 1966 he entered the technical department of Chernivtsi State University. In 1969 he graduated from the university and entered Moscow Theological Seminary.
In 1970 he enrolled as a lay brother of the Holy Trinity St. Sergius Lavra.
On March 18, 1971, he was tonsured a monk, on June 20 he was ordained deacon, on May 29, 1972, he was elevated to the rank of hieromonk.
In 1980 he was elevated to the rank of hegumen.
On August 28, 1984, he was appointed rector of the Transfiguration Church of the Mount Athos metochion in Lukine village, Moscow region.
On June 28, 1985, he was appointed Dean of the Holy Trinity St Sergius Lavra.
On December 15, 1986, he was elevated to the rank of Archimandrite.
In 1988 he graduated from Moscow Theological Academy with degree in Theology.
On July 20, 1988, he was appointed governor of the Holy Dormition Pochayiv Lavra.
On December 9, 1990, at St. Volodymyr Cathedral in Kyiv he was consecrated as Bishop of Chernivtsi and Bukovyna.
On January 22, 1992, he refused to sign the appeal of the hierarchs’ meeting of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church to His Holiness Patriarch Alexius II to grant autocephaly to the Church in Ukraine, on January 23, Metropolitan Filaret (Denisenko, later anathematized by Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Moscow Patriarchate and became the head and Patriarch of Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Kyiv Patriarchate) transferred him to the Chair of Ivano-Frankivsk.
On April 7, 1992, he returned to the Chair of Chernivtsi.
On July 28, 1994, he was elevated to the rank of archbishop and appointed a permanent member of the Holy Synod of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.
On November 22, 2000, he was elevated to the rank of Metropolitan.
On November 23, 2013, he was entitled to wear the second panagia by His Beatitude Volodymyr, Metropolitan of Kyiv and All Ukraine.
According to the decision of the Holy Synod as of February 24, 2014, he was elected the Locum Tenens of the Kyiv Metropolis.
According to the decision of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church as of March 19, 2014 (Journal 1), he was included in the Synod as a permanent member for the period of tenure as locum tenens of the Kyiv Metropolis with the definition of the seniority position occupied by Metropolitan of Kyiv and All Ukraine - the first among the bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church.
Awards:
Ecclesial:
Order of St Innocent of Moscow 2nd degree.
Secular:
2013 - Order of Friendship (Russian Federation).
