Metropolitan Ioann (Vasiliy Bodnarchuk)
Encyclopedia
Metropolitan Ioann was an Orthodox
priest
born in the Ternopil
area of Western Ukraine
, which at that time was a territory of Poland
.
Though he was born into a family of Greek-Catholics
, he converted to Orthodoxy early in his childhood.
In 1949 he was arrested for his pro-Ukrainian nationalistic rhetoric and sentenced to 20 years of hard labor in the copper mines of Steplag Karaganda. His family was deported to Kazakhstan
where they lived until 1953. Later that year he was released on amnesty.
In 1956, he was accepted into the Leningrad Theological Seminary and in 1958 he became a deacon
. After graduating the Seminary
in 1960, he was accepted into the Leningrad Theological Academy and in 1961 he became a priest. In 1964 he graduated the Academy with a PhD
in Divinity. He was sent to the Lviv
and Ternopil diocese
of the Moscow Patriarchate. He served as a priest in the village of Striivka, Zbarazhskiy which is in the Ternopil region. In 1968 he served in a parish
in the Lviv region.
In 1977 he took his monastic vows and was awarded the title of Archimandrite
. Later this year, by the decision of the Holy Synod of Moscow Patriarchate, he became a bishop
of Zhitomir and Ovruch
. In 1989 he was released from management of the diocese on the basis of health problems and granted a leave of absence. In the same year he left the clergy of the Moscow Patriarchate he created the Ukrainian Autocephalic Apostolic Orthodox Church. He became Primate
of this jurisdiction.
In 1992 he was excluded from the clergy of the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church
, where he repented and submitted an application on returning to the Moscow Patriarchate. But, before the decision was made on his behalf, Metropolitan Ioann changed his mind and recalled his petition. Instead, he joined the Ukrainian Orthodox Church – Kiev Patriarchate and was appointed as Metropolitan
of Drahobych and Sambor. Later he would be appointed Metropolitan of Lutsk and Volyn.
He died in a car accident in 1994.
Orthodox Christianity
The term Orthodox Christianity may refer to:* the Eastern Orthodox Church and its various geographical subdivisions...
priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
born in the Ternopil
Ternopil
Ternopil , is a city in western Ukraine, located on the banks of the Seret River. Ternopil is one of the major cities of Western Ukraine and the historical region of Galicia...
area of Western Ukraine
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...
, which at that time was a territory of Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
.
Though he was born into a family of Greek-Catholics
Greek Catholic Church
The Greek Catholic Church consists of the Eastern Catholic Churches which follow the Byzantine liturgical tradition and are thus in full communion with the Bishop of Rome, the Pope.-List of Greek Catholic Churches:...
, he converted to Orthodoxy early in his childhood.
In 1949 he was arrested for his pro-Ukrainian nationalistic rhetoric and sentenced to 20 years of hard labor in the copper mines of Steplag Karaganda. His family was deported to Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan , officially the Republic of Kazakhstan, is a transcontinental country in Central Asia and Eastern Europe. Ranked as the ninth largest country in the world, it is also the world's largest landlocked country; its territory of is greater than Western Europe...
where they lived until 1953. Later that year he was released on amnesty.
In 1956, he was accepted into the Leningrad Theological Seminary and in 1958 he became a deacon
Deacon
Deacon is a ministry in the Christian Church that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions...
. After graduating the 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...
in 1960, he was accepted into the Leningrad Theological Academy and in 1961 he became a priest. In 1964 he graduated the Academy with a PhD
PHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
in Divinity. He was sent to the Lviv
Lviv
Lviv is a city in western Ukraine. The city is regarded as one of the main cultural centres of today's Ukraine and historically has also been a major Polish and Jewish cultural center, as Poles and Jews were the two main ethnicities of the city until the outbreak of World War II and the following...
and Ternopil diocese
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
of the Moscow Patriarchate. He served as a priest in the village of Striivka, Zbarazhskiy which is in the Ternopil region. In 1968 he served in a parish
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
in the Lviv region.
In 1977 he took his monastic vows and was awarded the title of 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...
. Later this year, by the decision of the Holy Synod of Moscow Patriarchate, he became a bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
of Zhitomir and Ovruch
Ovruch
Ovruch is a city in the Zhytomyr Oblast of northern Ukraine. It is the administrative center of the Ovruch Raion . The current estimated population is around 17,000 . It is home to Ovruch air base....
. In 1989 he was released from management of the diocese on the basis of health problems and granted a leave of absence. In the same year he left the clergy of the Moscow Patriarchate he created the Ukrainian Autocephalic Apostolic Orthodox Church. He became Primate
Primate (religion)
Primate is a title or rank bestowed on some bishops in certain Christian churches. Depending on the particular tradition, it can denote either jurisdictional authority or ceremonial precedence ....
of this jurisdiction.
In 1992 he was excluded from the clergy of the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church
Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church
The Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church is one of the three major Orthodox Churches in Ukraine. Close to ten percent of the Christian population claim to be members of the UAOC. The other Churches are the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Kiev Patriarchate and the Ukrainian Russophile Orthodox...
, where he repented and submitted an application on returning to the Moscow Patriarchate. But, before the decision was made on his behalf, Metropolitan Ioann changed his mind and recalled his petition. Instead, he joined the Ukrainian Orthodox Church – Kiev Patriarchate and was appointed as Metropolitan
Metropolitan bishop
In Christian churches with episcopal polity, the rank of metropolitan bishop, or simply metropolitan, pertains to the diocesan bishop or archbishop of a metropolis; that is, the chief city of a historical Roman province, ecclesiastical province, or regional capital.Before the establishment of...
of Drahobych and Sambor. Later he would be appointed Metropolitan of Lutsk and Volyn.
He died in a car accident in 1994.