Ipatii Potii
Encyclopedia
Adam Ipatii Potii (1541—1613) was the Ukrainian
Metropolitan of Kiev and Galychyna from 1599 to his death in 1613. He played an active role in the 1595 Union of Brest
of which he was a firm supporter. He was also a writer, polemist and theologian.
from a noble
family. His mother, Anna Loza, after the death of his husband, on about 1550, married the governor of areas of Smolensk
. Prince Mikolaj "the Black" Radziwill took care of his education and sent him to a Calvinist school and later in the Jagiellonian University
in Kraków
. In 1566 Potii started to work as a judge in Brest
, in 1572 he was secretary of king Sigismund II Augustus
and later he was appointed tax collector and in 1588 Castellan
of Brest. He was also a senator of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth.
In his yonth, under the influence of Prince Radziwill, Potii converted to Calvinism, but in 1574, scared about the extremes of that denomination he returned to the Orthodox Church. In the same year he married Anna, of the dukes of Hołowniów-Ostrożeckich, with whom he had six children.
, taking the religious name of Ipatii (Hypatius). Thanks to the support of Prince Konstanty Wasyl Ostrogski
, a close friend of his, he was appointed in 1593 as a bishop of the eparchy of Volodymyr
-Brest
and he was consecrated bishop on 6 June 1593 by the hands of Mykhajlo Rohoza
.
Potii played a crucial role in the establishing of the Union of Brest
by which the Ukrainian Church moved from the jurisdiction of the Patriarchate of Constantinople to the jurisdiction of the Pope
, thus forming the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church
. He actually traveled to Rome
, along with the Bishop of Lutzk Cyril Terlecki
, to carry to Pope Clement VII
the petition undersigned by the bishops in Brest on 12 June 1595 asking for the union: they arrived in Rome on 25 November 1595, obtained the approval of the Pope on the conditions that Byzantine rite
, liturgical practices and the not-use of the filioque would be preserved and were back in Lutzk in March 1596.
on 15 November 1600. In 1601 he founded a seminary
and on 3 March 1605 he was formally recognized as the only Byzantine Rite
Metropolitan in the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth.
On 11 July 1609 some Orthodox, who opposed the Union of Brest, attempted to his life, but without success. In 1611 he succeeded to appoint also a bishop favorable to the Union of Brest in the Eparchy of Przemyśl
. He also worked on the restructuring of the Order of Saint Basil the Great
. Potii died on 8 July 1613 in Volodymyr-Volynskyi
and was buried in the cathedral of that town.
and Konstanty Wasyl Ostrogski
.
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
Metropolitan of Kiev and Galychyna from 1599 to his death in 1613. He played an active role in the 1595 Union of Brest
Union of Brest
Union of Brest or Union of Brześć refers to the 1595-1596 decision of the Church of Rus', the "Metropolia of Kiev-Halych and all Rus'", to break relations with the Patriarch of Constantinople and place themselves under the Pope of Rome. At the time, this church included most Ukrainians and...
of which he was a firm supporter. He was also a writer, polemist and theologian.
Early life
Adam Potii was born on 12 August 1541 in Różanka, Lublin VoivodeshipRózanka, Lublin Voivodeship
Różanka is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Włodawa, within Włodawa County, Lublin Voivodeship, in eastern Poland, close to the border with Belarus. It lies approximately north of Włodawa and north-east of the regional capital Lublin....
from a noble
Nobility
Nobility is a social class which possesses more acknowledged privileges or eminence than members of most other classes in a society, membership therein typically being hereditary. The privileges associated with nobility may constitute substantial advantages over or relative to non-nobles, or may be...
family. His mother, Anna Loza, after the death of his husband, on about 1550, married the governor of areas of Smolensk
Smolensk
Smolensk is a city and the administrative center of Smolensk Oblast, Russia, located on the Dnieper River. Situated west-southwest of Moscow, this walled city was destroyed several times throughout its long history since it was on the invasion routes of both Napoleon and Hitler. Today, Smolensk...
. Prince Mikolaj "the Black" Radziwill took care of his education and sent him to a Calvinist school and later in the Jagiellonian University
Jagiellonian University
The Jagiellonian University was established in 1364 by Casimir III the Great in Kazimierz . It is the oldest university in Poland, the second oldest university in Central Europe and one of the oldest universities in the world....
in Kraków
Kraków
Kraków also Krakow, or Cracow , is the second largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in the Lesser Poland region, the city dates back to the 7th century. Kraków has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Polish academic, cultural, and artistic life...
. In 1566 Potii started to work as a judge in Brest
Brest, Belarus
Brest , formerly also Brest-on-the-Bug and Brest-Litovsk , is a city in Belarus at the border with Poland opposite the city of Terespol, where the Bug River and Mukhavets rivers meet...
, in 1572 he was secretary of king Sigismund II Augustus
Sigismund II Augustus
Sigismund II Augustus I was King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania, the only son of Sigismund I the Old, whom Sigismund II succeeded in 1548...
and later he was appointed tax collector and in 1588 Castellan
Castellan
A castellan was the governor or captain of a castle. The word stems from the Latin Castellanus, derived from castellum "castle". Also known as a constable.-Duties:...
of Brest. He was also a senator of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth.
In his yonth, under the influence of Prince Radziwill, Potii converted to Calvinism, but in 1574, scared about the extremes of that denomination he returned to the Orthodox Church. In the same year he married Anna, of the dukes of Hołowniów-Ostrożeckich, with whom he had six children.
Bishop
After the death of his wife in 1592, Potii chose to become a monkMonk
A monk is a person who practices religious asceticism, living either alone or with any number of monks, while always maintaining some degree of physical separation from those not sharing the same purpose...
, taking the religious name of Ipatii (Hypatius). Thanks to the support of Prince Konstanty Wasyl Ostrogski
Konstanty Wasyl Ostrogski
Konstanty Wasyl Ostrogski was a Lithuanian prince, starost of Volodymyr-Volynskyi, marshal of Volhynia and voivode of the Kiev Voivodeship, Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. He got married on January 1553 in Tarnów...
, a close friend of his, he was appointed in 1593 as a bishop of the eparchy of Volodymyr
Volodymyr-Volynskyi
Volodymyr-Volynsky is a city located in Volyn Oblast, in north-western Ukraine. Serving as the administrative centre of the Volodymyr-Volynsky District, the city itself is also designated as a separate raion within the oblast...
-Brest
Brest, Belarus
Brest , formerly also Brest-on-the-Bug and Brest-Litovsk , is a city in Belarus at the border with Poland opposite the city of Terespol, where the Bug River and Mukhavets rivers meet...
and he was consecrated bishop on 6 June 1593 by the hands of Mykhajlo Rohoza
Mykhajlo Rohoza
Michel Rohoza was the Ukrainian Metropolitan of Kiev, Galychyna and All-Rus' from 1588 to his death in 1599. In 1595 he signed the Union of Brest which moved the Ukrainian Church from the jurisdiction of the Patriarchate of Constantinople to the jurisdiction of the Pope, thus forming the...
.
Potii played a crucial role in the establishing of the Union of Brest
Union of Brest
Union of Brest or Union of Brześć refers to the 1595-1596 decision of the Church of Rus', the "Metropolia of Kiev-Halych and all Rus'", to break relations with the Patriarch of Constantinople and place themselves under the Pope of Rome. At the time, this church included most Ukrainians and...
by which the Ukrainian Church moved from the jurisdiction of the Patriarchate of Constantinople to the jurisdiction of the Pope
Pope
The Pope is the Bishop of Rome, a position that makes him the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church . In the Catholic Church, the Pope is regarded as the successor of Saint Peter, the Apostle...
, thus forming the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church
Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church
The Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church , Ukrainska Hreko-Katolytska Tserkva), is the largest Eastern Rite Catholic sui juris particular church in full communion with the Holy See, and is directly subject to the Pope...
. He actually traveled to Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, along with the Bishop of Lutzk Cyril Terlecki
Cyril Terlecki
Bishop Cyril S. Terlecki - religious and political figure. One of the initiators of the conclusion of the Union of Brest in 1596 .- Life :...
, to carry to Pope Clement VII
Pope Clement VII
Clement VII , born Giulio di Giuliano de' Medici, was a cardinal from 1513 to 1523 and was Pope from 1523 to 1534.-Early life:...
the petition undersigned by the bishops in Brest on 12 June 1595 asking for the union: they arrived in Rome on 25 November 1595, obtained the approval of the Pope on the conditions that Byzantine rite
Byzantine Rite
The Byzantine Rite, sometimes called the Rite of Constantinople or Constantinopolitan Rite is the liturgical rite used currently by all the Eastern Orthodox Churches, by the Greek Catholic Churches , and by the Protestant Ukrainian Lutheran Church...
, liturgical practices and the not-use of the filioque would be preserved and were back in Lutzk in March 1596.
Metropolitan
Ipatii Potii was appointed new Metropolitan of Kiev in August 1599 by the will of king Sigismund III Vasaref and he was confirmed by Pope Clement VIIIPope Clement VIII
Pope Clement VIII , born Ippolito Aldobrandini, was Pope from 30 January 1592 to 3 March 1605.-Cardinal:...
on 15 November 1600. In 1601 he founded a seminary
Seminary
A seminary, theological college, or divinity school is an institution of secondary or post-secondary education for educating students in theology, generally to prepare them for ordination as clergy or for other ministry...
and on 3 March 1605 he was formally recognized as the only Byzantine Rite
Byzantine Rite
The Byzantine Rite, sometimes called the Rite of Constantinople or Constantinopolitan Rite is the liturgical rite used currently by all the Eastern Orthodox Churches, by the Greek Catholic Churches , and by the Protestant Ukrainian Lutheran Church...
Metropolitan in the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth.
On 11 July 1609 some Orthodox, who opposed the Union of Brest, attempted to his life, but without success. In 1611 he succeeded to appoint also a bishop favorable to the Union of Brest in the Eparchy of Przemyśl
Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Przemysl–Warsaw
The Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Przemyśl–Warsaw is an archeparchy located in the cities of Przemyśl and Warsaw in Poland.-History:In 1087 the Eparchy of Przemyśl was established....
. He also worked on the restructuring of the Order of Saint Basil the Great
Order of Saint Basil the Great
The Order of St. Basil the Great also known as the Basilian Order of Saint Josaphat is an monastic religious order of the Greek Catholic Churches that is present in many countries and that has its Mother House in Rome. The order received approbation on August 20, 1631...
. Potii died on 8 July 1613 in Volodymyr-Volynskyi
Volodymyr-Volynskyi
Volodymyr-Volynsky is a city located in Volyn Oblast, in north-western Ukraine. Serving as the administrative centre of the Volodymyr-Volynsky District, the city itself is also designated as a separate raion within the oblast...
and was buried in the cathedral of that town.
Works
Potii was also a writer, polemist and theologian. Among his works we have: "The Union, or an Exposition of the Articles" (1595), "Antirysis" (Anti-Discourse, 1599), "A Defense of the Council of Florence" (1603), and "Harmony, or the Agreement of Faiths" (1608). He wrote numerous letters, also to Lew SapiehaLew Sapieha
Lew Sapieha . He was born in Astrouna , near Vitsebsk, Belarus. He became Great Secretary of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania in 1580, Great Clerk of the Grand Duchy in 1581, Court Chancellor of the GDL in 1585, Grand Chancellor of the GDL from 1589 until 1623, Voivode of Vilnius in 1621, Great...
and Konstanty Wasyl Ostrogski
Konstanty Wasyl Ostrogski
Konstanty Wasyl Ostrogski was a Lithuanian prince, starost of Volodymyr-Volynskyi, marshal of Volhynia and voivode of the Kiev Voivodeship, Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. He got married on January 1553 in Tarnów...
.