Lev Zalenskyj
Encyclopedia
Lev Szlubic Zalenskyj (c. 1648—1708) was the Metropolitan of Kiev, Galicia and Russia of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church
from 1694 to his death in 1708.
in Volhynia
, from a noble
family.
He entered young in the Order of Saint Basil the Great
, and after the novitiate
he was assigned to the Supraśl Lavra. He studied at University of Olomouc and in Vilnius
. After having been ordained a priest
, at 25 he went to complete his studies in the Greek College in Rome where he studied metaphysic from December 1673 to May 1676, when he returned in his country and was appointed Archimandrite
of the Zhyrovichy Monastery
.
The bishop of Volodymyr
-Brest
, Benedict Glynskij, who was Zalenskyj's uncle by the side of his mother, before to die in 1677 succeeded to have Zalenskyj elected as coadjutor bishop
for his diocese. Zalenskyj received the appointment from king John III Sobieski
on 30 November 1678 and shortly later he was consecrated a bishop
by Metropotan Kyprian Zochovskyj
. In 1679 Zalenskyj became the titular bishop of Volodymyr-Brest and got the title of Protothronius (first after the Metropolitan).
When in October 1693 the Metropolitan Kyprian Zochovskyj died without a coadjutor, Zalenskyj was chosen to temporarily lead the Church because he was the Protothronius. A few months later, in 1694, the Greek-Catholic bishops met in Warsaw
and elected him as new Metropolitan. His election was confirmed by the king and finally by Pope Innocent XII
on 16 September 1695.
Zalenskyj was a firm supporter of the Union of Brest
, and in the first part of his reign he obtained an enlargement of his Church, as the adhesion the Union of the Archeparchy of Lviv
on 9 June 1700 (the eparch of Lviv, Josyf Sumljanskyj, privately adhered to the Union already some years before). He also succeeded to repair the relations of the Metropolitan with the Basilian monks which were became strained under his predecessor.
The second part of Zalenskyj's reign was marked by the difficulties of the Great Northern War
(started in 1700), and by the persecutions of Peter I of Russia
against the Greek Catholic Church
, as the murdering of Basilian monks on 11 July 1705 in Polotsk.
Zalensky died in Volodymyr-Volynskyi
on 21 July 1708. At his death the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church was the main Eastern Rite Church in the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth and counted about 12 millions adherents.
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...
from 1694 to his death in 1708.
Life
Lev Szlubic Zalenskyj was born on about 1648 in Lubycz, a village near LutskLutsk
Lutsk is a city located by the Styr River in northwestern Ukraine. It is the administrative center of the Volyn Oblast and the administrative center of the surrounding Lutskyi Raion within the oblast...
in Volhynia
Volhynia
Volhynia, Volynia, or Volyn is a historic region in western Ukraine located between the rivers Prypiat and Southern Bug River, to the north of Galicia and Podolia; the region is named for the former city of Volyn or Velyn, said to have been located on the Southern Bug River, whose name may come...
, 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.
He entered young in 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...
, and after the novitiate
Novitiate
Novitiate, alt. noviciate, is the period of training and preparation that a novice monastic or member of a religious order undergoes prior to taking vows in order to discern whether they are called to the religious life....
he was assigned to the Supraśl Lavra. He studied at University of Olomouc and in Vilnius
Vilnius
Vilnius is the capital of Lithuania, and its largest city, with a population of 560,190 as of 2010. It is the seat of the Vilnius city municipality and of the Vilnius district municipality. It is also the capital of Vilnius County...
. After having been ordained a priest
Priesthood (Catholic Church)
The ministerial orders of the Catholic Church include the orders of bishops, deacons and presbyters, which in Latin is sacerdos. The ordained priesthood and common priesthood are different in function and essence....
, at 25 he went to complete his studies in the Greek College in Rome where he studied metaphysic from December 1673 to May 1676, when he returned in his country and was appointed Archimandrite
Archimandrite
The title Archimandrite , primarily used in the Eastern Orthodox and the Eastern Catholic churches, originally referred to a superior abbot whom a bishop appointed to supervise...
of the Zhyrovichy Monastery
Zhyrovichy Monastery
Zhyrovichy Monastery is an Orthodox monastery in Belarus, in the village of Zhyrovichy .The monastery was founded in the 16th century. Due to a belief, an icon of Virgin Mary was found in the local woods...
.
The bishop 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...
, Benedict Glynskij, who was Zalenskyj's uncle by the side of his mother, before to die in 1677 succeeded to have Zalenskyj elected as coadjutor bishop
Coadjutor bishop
A coadjutor bishop is a bishop in the Roman Catholic or Anglican churches who is designated to assist the diocesan bishop in the administration of the diocese, almost as co-bishop of the diocese...
for his diocese. Zalenskyj received the appointment from king John III Sobieski
John III Sobieski
John III Sobieski was one of the most notable monarchs of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, from 1674 until his death King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania. Sobieski's 22-year-reign was marked by a period of the Commonwealth's stabilization, much needed after the turmoil of the Deluge and...
on 30 November 1678 and shortly later he was consecrated a bishop
Bishop (Catholic Church)
In the Catholic Church, a bishop is an ordained minister who holds the fullness of the sacrament of Holy Orders and is responsible for teaching the Catholic faith and ruling the Church....
by Metropotan Kyprian Zochovskyj
Kyprian Zochovskyj
Kyprian Zochovskyj was the Metropolitan of Kiev, Galicia and Russia of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church from 1674 to his death in 1693.-Life:...
. In 1679 Zalenskyj became the titular bishop of Volodymyr-Brest and got the title of Protothronius (first after the Metropolitan).
When in October 1693 the Metropolitan Kyprian Zochovskyj died without a coadjutor, Zalenskyj was chosen to temporarily lead the Church because he was the Protothronius. A few months later, in 1694, the Greek-Catholic bishops met in Warsaw
Warsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
and elected him as new Metropolitan. His election was confirmed by the king and finally by Pope Innocent XII
Pope Innocent XII
Pope Innocent XII , born Antonio Pignatelli, was Pope from 1691 to 1700.-Biography:He was born in Spinazzola to one of the most aristocratic families of the Kingdom of Naples, which included many Viceroys, and ministers to the crown, and was educated at the Jesuit college in Rome.In his twentieth...
on 16 September 1695.
Zalenskyj was a firm supporter 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...
, and in the first part of his reign he obtained an enlargement of his Church, as the adhesion the Union of the Archeparchy of Lviv
Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Lviv
The Archeparchy of Lviv is an archeparchy of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church.The eparchy was established at some time during the mid 12th century, with its see originally in Halych...
on 9 June 1700 (the eparch of Lviv, Josyf Sumljanskyj, privately adhered to the Union already some years before). He also succeeded to repair the relations of the Metropolitan with the Basilian monks which were became strained under his predecessor.
The second part of Zalenskyj's reign was marked by the difficulties of the Great Northern War
Great Northern War
The Great Northern War was a conflict in which a coalition led by the Tsardom of Russia successfully contested the supremacy of the Swedish Empire in northern Central Europe and Eastern Europe. The initial leaders of the anti-Swedish alliance were Peter I the Great of Russia, Frederick IV of...
(started in 1700), and by the persecutions of Peter I of Russia
Peter I of Russia
Peter the Great, Peter I or Pyotr Alexeyevich Romanov Dates indicated by the letters "O.S." are Old Style. All other dates in this article are New Style. ruled the Tsardom of Russia and later the Russian Empire from until his death, jointly ruling before 1696 with his half-brother, Ivan V...
against the 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...
, as the murdering of Basilian monks on 11 July 1705 in Polotsk.
Zalensky died 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...
on 21 July 1708. At his death the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church was the main Eastern Rite Church in the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth and counted about 12 millions adherents.