His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry and the feat of the Desert Fathers

Onufriy (Berezovsky)
(born 1944), Metropolitan of Kiev and All Ukraine, Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, permanent member of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church, member of the presidium and chairman of the Commission on counteracting church schisms and overcoming them of the Inter-Council presence of the Russian Orthodox Church in the world Berezovsky Orest Vladimirovich, was born on November 5, 1944 in the village of Vilavche, Vashkovetsky district (now the village of Korytnoye, Vyzhnytsia district), Chernivtsi region of Ukraine, in the family of Vladimir, a future priest, and Yulia Ivanovna Berezovsky [1]. Brothers (deceased by August 2014): Ivan, became a priest, Victor, was a driver, and sister Lydia, died at 37 years old due to working with toxic paints at a souvenir factory [2].

In 1961 he graduated from high school. From 1962 to 1964 he studied at the Chernivtsi Technical School, after which he worked in construction organizations in Chernivtsi. In 1966 he entered the general technical faculty of Chernivtsi University, and in 1969, after the third year, he entered the second class of the Moscow Theological Seminary, which he graduated in 1972.

In 1970, he was accepted into the brotherhood of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra, where, in parallel with his studies, he carried out various obediences: he sang in the choir, stood behind the candle box, and was the cell attendant of the viceroy.

On March 18, 1971, he was tonsured a monk and named in honor of St. Onuphrius the Great.

On June 20, 1971, he was ordained a hierodeacon, and on May 29, 1972, a hieromonk.

In 1972 he entered the Moscow Theological Academy, from which he graduated in 1988 with a candidate of theology degree, which he was awarded for his work on the topic “The Pastoral Ministry of St. Job, Abbot of Pochaev.”

In 1980 he was elevated to the rank of abbot.

On August 28, 1984, he was appointed rector of the Transfiguration Church of the Athos Metochion in the village of Lukino.

On June 28, 1985 he was appointed dean of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra.

On December 15, 1986, he was elevated to the rank of archimandrite.

On July 20, 1988, he was appointed governor of the Assumption Pochaev Lavra, where he served until November 1990.

By the resolution of the Holy Synod of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church on November 24, 1990, he was elected Bishop of Chernivtsi and Bukovina. His naming took place on December 8, 1990, and his episcopal consecration on December 9 of the same year.

On January 22, 1992, he refused to sign the appeal of the bishops' conference of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church to Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Rus' on granting autocephaly to the Church in Ukraine, and on January 23, the soon-anathematized Metropolitan Philaret (Denisenko) was transferred to the Ivano-Frankivsk See.

On April 7, 1992, he was restored to the Chernivtsi See, and on May 27-28 he took part in the Kharkov Council of the Ukrainian Church, taking, together with the majority of bishops, an uncompromising position in relation to Filaret, who was deposed at the council.

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.

More than ten years before the reunification of the Russian Orthodox Church at home and abroad, Bishop Onuphry had already entered into close relations with the First Hierarch of the Church Abroad, Metropolitan Laurus. Having met in 1995, they met and had spiritual conversations both during Bishop Onuphry’s trips to the USA and during Metropolitan Laurus’s visit to Ukraine.

On November 22, 2000, he was elevated to the rank of metropolitan.
Until December 14, 2007, he was the chairman of the Canonical Commission at the Holy Synod of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

On December 14, 2007, he was appointed chairman of the Church Court of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church [3].

On June 26, 2008, the Council of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church elected him to the General Church Court of the Russian Orthodox Church for the position of deputy chairman for a period of four years [4]. On February 2-5, 2013, the Council of Bishops re-elected him to the same position for the same term [5].

On July 27, 2009, he became a member of the Inter-Council Presence of the Russian Orthodox Church, and on October 23, 2014, its presidium. From January 29, 2010 to October 23, 2014, he was a member of the Commission on the Organization of the Life of Monasteries and Monasticism, and from October 23, 2014, Chairman of the Commission on Countering Church Schisms and Overcoming Them of the Inter-Council Presence [6].

On February 24, 2014, at a meeting of the Holy Synod of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church chaired by Metropolitan Agafangel (Savvin) of Odessa and Izmail (based on clause 17 of Section IV of the Charter on the governance of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, as the oldest permanent member of the Holy Synod of the UOC by ordination), due to the impossibility of due to health conditions, Metropolitan of Kiev and All Ukraine Vladimir (Sabodan) to govern the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, he was elected by secret ballot as locum tenens of the Kyiv Metropolitan See [7], with the assumption of temporary management of the Kyiv diocese.

On March 19, 2014, he was included in the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church as a permanent member, for the duration of his occupation of the position of locum tenens of the Kiev Metropolitan See, with the determination by protocol seniority of the place occupied by the Metropolitan of Kyiv and All Ukraine - the first among the bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church [8 ].

On August 13, 2014, at the Council of Bishops of the UOC in Kyiv, he was elected Metropolitan of Kyiv, Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church [9]. On the same day, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus' approved the decision of the Kyiv Council and gave Metropolitan Onufry his blessing to assume the office of Primate of the Ukrainian Church [10]. The enthronement took place on August 17 of the same year during the Divine Liturgy in the Kiev Pechersk Lavra.

On September 16, 2014, he was released from the post of chairman of the Church Court of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church [11], and on October 23 of the same year - from the post of deputy chairman of the Pan-Church Court of the Russian Orthodox Church [12].

Awards

Church:

• pectoral cross (1973)
• wearing the second panagia (November 23, 2013 [13])
• Order of the Russian Orthodox Church of St. Innocent, Met. Moscow and Kolomna II degree
• Order of the Russian Orthodox Church of St. Sergius of Radonezh, 1st degree (on the 70th anniversary of his birth, from Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus' [14])

Secular:

• Order of Friendship (July 11, 2013, Russian Federation, for great contribution to the development of friendly relations between peoples and strengthening of spiritual traditions) [15]

Russian Orthodox Church

Permanent member of the Synod of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church

Born on November 5, 1944 in the village. Korytnoe Vashkovsky (now Vyzhnytskyi) district of Chernivtsi region. Ukraine in the family of a priest.

In 1964 he graduated from the Chernivtsi Technical School, worked in a construction organization, and in 1966 he entered the general technical faculty of the Chernivtsi State University. In 1969 he left the university and entered the Moscow Theological Seminary.

In 1970 he was accepted into the brethren of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra.

On March 18, 1971, he was tonsured a monk, on June 20, he was ordained a hierodeacon, and on May 29, 1972, he was ordained a hieromonk.

In 1980 he was elevated to the rank of abbot.

On August 28, 1984, he was appointed rector of the Transfiguration Church of the Athos Compound in the village. Lukin, Moscow region.

On June 28, 1985 he was appointed dean of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra.

On December 15, 1986 he was elevated to the rank of archimandrite.

In 1988 he graduated from the MDA with a candidate's degree in theology.

On July 20, 1988, he was appointed governor of the Assumption Pochaev Lavra.

On December 9, 1990, in the Vladimir Cathedral of Kyiv, he was consecrated Bishop of Chernivtsi and Bukovina.

On January 22, 1992, he refused to sign the appeal of the bishops' conference of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church to His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II on granting autocephaly to the Church in Ukraine; on January 23, Met. Filaret (Denisenko, later anathematized) was transferred to the Ivano-Frankivsk department.

On April 7, 1992, he was restored to the Chernivtsi department.

On July 28, 1994, he was elevated to the rank of archbishop and appointed a permanent member of the Synod of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

On November 22, 2000 he was elevated to the rank of metropolitan.

By the decision of the Bishops' Council of the Russian Orthodox Church on February 2-5, 2013, he was elected deputy chairman of the Pan-Church Court of the Russian Orthodox Church.

November 23, 2013 His Beatitude Metropolitan of Kyiv and All Ukraine Vladimir was awarded the right to wear the second panagia.

By the decision of the Synod of the UOC on February 24, 2014, he was elected Locum Tenens of the Kyiv Metropolitan See.

By the decision of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church of March 19, 2014 (journal No. 1), he was included in the Synod as a permanent member for the duration of his occupation of the position of Locum Tenens of the Kiev Metropolitan See with the determination by protocol seniority of the place occupied by His Beatitude the Metropolitan of Kyiv and All Ukraine - the first among bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church.

At the Council of Bishops of the UOC, held on August 13, 2014 in the Kiev Pechersk Lavra, he was elected Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. The enthronement took place on August 17, 2014 at the Kiev Pechersk Lavra.

By the decision of the Synod of the UOC dated September 16, 2014 (journal No. 39), in connection with the election of the Metropolitan of Kyiv and All Ukraine, he was relieved of the post of chairman of the Church Court of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church; appointed (magazine No. 56) chairman of the newly formed Metropolitan Council for Cultural Affairs.

By the decision of the Holy Synod of October 23, 2014 (journal No. 92), he was relieved of his post as deputy chairman of the Pan-Church Court of the Russian Orthodox Church.

The future bishop was born into a priest's family and grew up in the Orthodox tradition

Orest Vladimirovich Berezovsky - this is the name of the primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in the world - was born in the village of Korytnoye, Chernivtsi region on November 5, 1944. His father and uncle were priests.

Due to his occupation, the father could not devote much time to the children; serving God took up almost all his free time. But when he succeeded, he told the children - and he had four of them - the lives of the saints.

Basil the Great became the boy Orestes' favorite saint.

Orest grew up as an ordinary child, and would prefer playing football to going to church. But, thanks to the efforts of his mother, the boy did not miss a single trip to the temple.

Orestes became neither a pioneer nor a Komsomol member. For this he got a lot of punishment - they still forced him to wear a pioneer tie, and they literally forced him to join the Komsomol - they kept the students on their knees for several hours. Coercion did not break the boy and he remained true to himself and his convictions.

Notes[ | ]

1. Bishops' Council of the Russian Orthodox Church March 31 - April 5, 1992 / Historical information. Patriarchy.ru.
2. ↑ 12
   KYIV. On his birthday, His Beatitude Metropolitan Vladimir celebrated the Liturgy at the Kiev Pechersk Lavra // Synodal Information and Educational Department of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, 11.23.2013
3. Holy Synod of the UOC. Meeting on February 24, 2014 ((ukr.))
4. A telephone conversation took place between His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus' and the locum tenens of the Kyiv Metropolitan See, Metropolitan Onufriy // Patriarchy.ru
5. Journals of the meeting of the Holy Synod of March 19, 2014 // Journal No. 1.
6. Metropolitan Onuphry of Chernivtsi and Bukovina was elected Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Patriarchia.Ru Official website of the Moscow Patriarchate
   (August 13, 2014).
7. His Holiness Patriarch Kirill congratulated Metropolitan Onuphry of Chernivtsi on his election to the Throne of the Metropolitans of Kyiv and all Ukraine. Patriarchia.Ru, 13.8.2014.
8. The enthronement of Metropolitan Onufry of Kyiv and All Ukraine took place at the Kiev Pechersk Lavra. Patriarchia.Ru
9. Journals of the meeting of the Holy Synod of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church dated June 16, 2014
10. Verkhovna Rada deputies are persecuting Metropolitan Onufry of the UOC-MP for anti-war protest. Ukraine.ru.
11. Official channel of information for the UOC.
    Commentary by Blessed Metropolitan Onufriy for ZMI
    (unspecified)
    (May 9, 2015). Date accessed: September 6, 2021.
12. ROC on the inclusion of Metropolitan Onuphry in the “Peacemaker” database: if God wants to punish, he deprives him of reason (undefined)
    .
    Interfax-Religion
    . Date accessed: October 2, 2021.
13. Bartholomew reminded Onufry about the deprivation of the title of Metropolitan of Kyiv and All Ukraine (Russian). Moscow's comsomolets. Date accessed: December 5, 2021.
14. “Pilgrimage to the banks of the Dnieper” - Interview with Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan about his visit to Ukraine Archived May 25, 2015.
15. The good shepherd. Svyatogortsy about the Primate of the UOC
16. Decree of the President of the Russian Federation of July 11, 2013 No. 619 “On awarding state awards of the Russian Federation” Archived on December 24, 2013.
17. Decree of the President of the Russian Federation dated July 11, 2013 No. 619 “On awarding state awards of the Russian Federation” (unspecified)
    .
    official website of the President of Russia
    (July 11, 2013).
18. His Holiness awarded awards to a number of bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Archival copy dated April 13, 2021 on the Wayback Machine // Archive official website of the Moscow Patriarchate, 02/25/2005
19. In the Patriarchal and Synodal spiritual, administrative and cultural center of the Russian Orthodox Church in the South of Russia, the next meeting of the Holy Synod (unspecified)
    .
    official website of the Moscow Patriarchate
    (October 23, 2014).
20. Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia – Official Page
21. Metropolitan Onuphry was awarded the Order of St. Apostle Andrew the First-Called
22. Bishop Anthony of Moravia served with His Beatitude Metropolitan Onufry of Kyiv and All Ukraine on the day of his Angel
23. His Holiness Patriarch Kirill presented awards to bishops celebrating memorable dates

Statement by the new Metropolitan

The Ukrainian Orthodox Church is open to dialogue with schismatics and wants unification, but it is only possible on a canonical basis, the newly elected metropolitan told reporters. According to him, the issue of unifying the Orthodox churches was “discussed at the Council.” “We are open to dialogue and want to unite. But we have canons, and we will be guided only by them,” he emphasized.

Metropolitan Onufry also recalled the special status of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which is a self-governing Church with the rights of broad autonomy within the Moscow Patriarchate.

“We will build relations with the Russian Orthodox Church on a canonical basis; in serving Christ we follow the same path,” he said.

After school, Orest Berezovsky went to technical school

Despite average grades and general carelessness in his studies, the young man had clear plans for the future: first, study at a university, get a “secular” specialty, and then go to a seminary.

In 1962, Orest entered the Chernivtsi Technical School, and after graduation, in 1963, he entered the evening department of the Chernivtsi Technical University. During the day, Orestes worked as an electrician, and in the evenings he studied at the university.

The future metropolitan studied at a technical university before entering the seminary.

Orestes studied three courses at the university. I did not study further: my specialization required moving to Kyiv or Odessa.

And then the technical university student made a long-cherished decision: he went to the seminary, and not just anywhere, but to Moscow, to the Moscow Theological Seminary, in order to then continue his studies at the Moscow Theological Academy.

The Moscow Theological Academy has produced many outstanding church figures. Metropolitan Onufry studied here

Buried brothers and sister

News on the topic Metropolitan Onuphry was enthroned as the head of the UOC (MP) - When we learned about his election, we rejoiced like children for our fellow countryman. And then it became sad: now he will come to us less often. But a person like Metropolitan Onufriy is worth sharing with other regions, says Nikolai Mintenko, chairman of the village council of Korytny .
It is a fact that absolutely everyone in Korytnoye knows and loves the Metropolitan. They also remember their relatives - Orest Vladimirovich Berezovsky (secular name, patronymic and surname) was born 70 years ago in the family of a priest.

“His father, Vladimir, was also a good man, practically trouble-free. Everyone could spend the night and eat at his house. Times were hard then, wartime, they say in the village council. But the Metropolitan’s mother, Mother Yulia, was often sick, rarely left the house, and mostly took care of the housework - Vladimir’s father had a large household. By the way, the Metropolitan’s uncle was also a priest!

Related news

The head of the UOC-MP Onuphry is ready to talk with Filaret about unification. They say in Korytnoye that the metropolitan had two older brothers: Ivan, also a priest, and Victor, a driver - both are already deceased. And sister Lydia died very young, at 37 years old, due to working with toxic paints at a souvenir factory. Ivan had two children, nephews of the Metropolitan. One also died, and the second works as a driver in the village.

“He doesn’t communicate with the press, he says that he is a non-public person,” says Mintenko.

Onuphry's father's house is very tiny, not far from the center of the village. But it is renovated - covered in wood, new tiles, all in flowers. Maria Berezovskaya, the widow of her nephew, has lived here for 28 years. She also works in the diocese and travels to work in Chernivtsi. Mary's eldest son recently graduated from theological seminary.

“We don’t have any frills - three rooms, a kitchen, a veranda,” says Berezovskaya. – Vladyka rarely comes - at Christmas and Easter. He's always busy. But when he arrives, there is no end to people. Everyone is coming. He doesn’t forbid anyone to come, he talks to everyone.

Metropolitan Onuphry Photo: ForUm

In everyday life, the ruler is unpretentious. Maria says: she couldn’t even congratulate him - he doesn’t use a computer or a mobile phone. I don’t even have my own TV, nor do I have a car. Mintenko confirms this:

– He only has a landline phone, and that’s in the reception area. And in the office there are books and icons. There’s not even the simplest computer,” he says.

And in everything, the new head of the UOC is like this:

- When he arrives, he never asks to cook anything - he eats the same thing as us - soup, hominy, mushrooms. Last time he really praised my pickles and preserves,” says Maria and suddenly adds: “She looks a lot like her mother.” The father was tall, and the mother was short, like himself.

After being expelled from the university, Orestes firmly decided to burn all bridges and begin to serve God

When Orestes dropped out of the university, he decided to serve God in any capacity: he himself was preparing to enter the seminary, however, if he had not suddenly entered, he was going to simply stay in the monastery, no matter which one.

1970

this year Orestes became the monk Onufriy

Orest entered the seminary immediately in the 2nd grade, in 1969, and in 1970 Orest took monastic vows under the name Onuphrius and became part of the brethren of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra.

Onuphry received the holy rank a year later - on June 20, 1971, he was ordained hierodeacon.

Onuphrius gave 18 years of his life to the Trinity-Sergius Lavra. He served in obedience from 1970 to 1988.

Onuphry cannot really explain how he became a monk so quickly.

The Metropolitan says:

Onuphry

metropolitan

“Probably, this was God’s calling - there’s no other way to explain it. God called me and I went.”

In 1978, Onufry graduated from the Moscow Theological Academy. He received his PhD in Theology. The theme of the work was “The Pastoral Ministry of St. Job, Abbot of Pochaev.”

Onuphry continued his path along the spiritual “ladder”. In 1980 he was ordained to the rank of abbot, in 1986 to the rank of archimandrite.

In 1988, Archimandrite Onufry became the governor of the Pochaev Lavra.

“I came to the Lavra as a servant.” For two years Onuphry was the governor of the Pochaev Lavra