- Metropolitan Volodymyr (Viktor Sabodan)
Metropolitan Volodymyr (also known as Vladimir) (secular name Viktor Sabodan, born
November 23 ,1935 ) is the head of theUkrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) (UOC-MP). Metropolitan Volodymyr's official title is : "His Beatitude Vladimir, Metropolitan of Kiev and all Ukraine". As head of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate), he is the head of the only Ukrainian church to have canonical standing (legal recognition) in Eastern Orthodoxy world-wide.Early life
Viktor Sabodan was born in a peasant family in Khmelnytskyi region.
In the late 1950s and early 1960s he studied at
Odessa and later LeningradTheological Seminary .In 1965 he completed the post-graduate course at the
Moscow Theological Academy and was appointed Rector of the Odessa Theological Seminary and elevated to the rank ofArchimandrite . In 1966 he was appointed Deputy Head of the RussianEcclesiastical Mission toJerusalem .Episcopacy
In 1969 he was nominated
Bishop ofChernihiv and temporary administrator of SumyDiocese . OnSeptember 9 ,1973 he was elevated to the rank ofArchbishop of Moscow Diocese and Rector of theMoscow Theological Academy and Seminary .On
July 16 ,1982 he was appointed toRostov-on-Don Diocese and elevated to the rank of Metropolitan. From 1984 he was PatriarchalExarch of Western Europe, and from 1987, a permanent member of theHoly Synod , Chancellor ofMoscow Patriarchate .In 1992, he was elected by the
Kharkiv Council of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church as Metropolitan ofKiev , and Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. Later than year he was enthroned asMetropolitan of Kiev and all Ukraine , replacing Metropolitan Filaret who was excommunicated for allegedly participating in "schismatic activities."He is the author of numerous research papers on theology, the majority of which were included in the six-volume edition of his works published in 1997–1998.
Metropolitan Volodymyr was awarded
Yaroslav the Wise (Fifth Class) state order in 2000 by the Ukrainian presidentLeonid Kuchma .Metropolitan Volodymyr enjoys singing and collects recordings of Ukrainian folk songs as well as stamps and postcards. He has no objections to a good meal.
In January 2008, Metropolitan Volodymyr performed the service of consecration of the altar and temple in
Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine [ [http://orthodox.org.ua/eng/node/78 Orthodox Official Page News] ] .See also
*
Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate)
*History of Christianity in Ukraine References
External links
* [http://www.lavra.kiev.ua/en/main.php?id=98 Metropolitan Volodymyr]
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