Metropolitan Mefodiy (Kudryakov)
Encyclopedia
Metropolitan Mefodiy (born 11 March 1949) in the city of Kopychentsi, Husyatyn region in the district of the Ternopol region
.
A graduate of the Moscow Theological Academy in Zagorsk.
In 1981 he become a priest
and was among the clergy of the Lviv
and Ternopil diocese of the Ukrainian Exarchate - Moscow Patriarchate.
In 1987 by the decree
of his eparchial bishop
, Metropolitan Nikodim (Rusnak), Valeriy Kudriakov was banned from undertaking any church activity and performing any priestly function in public.
In 1989 the eparchial bishop lifted the ban and Valeriy Kudriakov again was among the clergy of the Lviv and Ternopil diocese.
In 1990 he joined the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church
. Because of the action, there followed a decision of the Synod of Bishops of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Moscow Patriarchate
, in which Valeriy Kudryakov was banned from undertaking any priestly duties and activities in that jurisdiction. He was later – excommunicated from the clergy
of the Russian Orthodox Church
.
In 1995 he became a bishop
. His consecration was performed by Patriarch Volodomyr (Romaniuk)
and bishop Izyaslav of Donetsk
and Luhansk
.
In 1995-1998 he was the bishop of Khmelnytsk and Kamenets-Podilsk, chancellor of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church - Kiev Patriarchy.
In 1998 he rejoined the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church
. This church was resurrected at the end of the Soviet period by Metropolitan Ioann (Bodnarchuk)
and Bishop Vikentiy (Chekalin).
In 1998, he was the vicar bishop
titled bishop of Kremenets.
On 10 November 1998 he became Archbishop
of Ternopil and Podilsk and Locum Tenens of the Patriarch
of the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church
.
On 16 October 2000 - at the Church Sobor
of the UAOC,Metropolitan Mefodiy (Kudriakov) was elected (Primate
) of the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church
. He is the successor of Patriarch Dymytriy (Yarema)
.
As Father & Head of the UAOC worldwide, Mefodiy is Metropolitan of Kyiv & all Ukraine. Since his elevation, he has worked towards global visibility for the church, including a pastoral visits to the United States in 2006 and travels to Western Europe. He has fostered continued positive relations with the Ukrainian government and other religious communities.
In 2005, Metropolitan Mefodiy pursued a legal suit which successfully restored the patriarchal chancery offices and the Church of Saint Demetrius of Thessaloniki to the UAOC. Located adjacent to the famous St. Michael's Golden-Domed Monastery, the premises had been in the use of a schismatic group.
Under the personal supervision of Metropolitan Mefodiy, the Ternopil Orthodox Theological Academy of the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church was renovated and its course of studies completely updated to conform to contemporary academic standards. On October 18, 2008, the first diplomas of the newly-accredited theological school were awarded to qualified graduates in a ceremony in the Cathedral of the Nativity of Christ in Ternopil.
Through the efforts of Metropolitan Meofidy, the Patriarchal Cathedral of the UAOC, the historic Church of St. Andrew the First-Called in Kyiv was returned by the Ukrainian government to the legal possession of the UAOC on May 21, 2008. Prior to the transfer of the title to the UAOC Patriarchate, the church had been part of the historic reserve park "Sofia-Kyiv" while being used for services of the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church
Region
Region is most commonly found as a term used in terrestrial and astrophysics sciences also an area, notably among the different sub-disciplines of geography, studied by regional geographers. Regions consist of subregions that contain clusters of like areas that are distinctive by their uniformity...
.
A graduate of the Moscow Theological Academy in Zagorsk.
In 1981 he become a 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...
and was among the clergy of 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 of the Ukrainian Exarchate - Moscow Patriarchate.
In 1987 by the decree
Decree
A decree is a rule of law issued by a head of state , according to certain procedures . It has the force of law...
of his eparchial 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...
, Metropolitan Nikodim (Rusnak), Valeriy Kudriakov was banned from undertaking any church activity and performing any priestly function in public.
In 1989 the eparchial bishop lifted the ban and Valeriy Kudriakov again was among the clergy of the Lviv and Ternopil diocese.
In 1990 he joined 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...
. Because of the action, there followed a decision of the Synod of Bishops of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Moscow Patriarchate
Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate)
The Ukrainian Orthodox Church is an autonomous Church of Eastern Orthodoxy in Ukraine, under the ecclesiastic jurisdiction of the Moscow Patriarchate...
, in which Valeriy Kudryakov was banned from undertaking any priestly duties and activities in that jurisdiction. He was later – excommunicated from the clergy
Clergy
Clergy is the generic term used to describe the formal religious leadership within a given religion. A clergyman, churchman or cleric is a member of the clergy, especially one who is a priest, preacher, pastor, or other religious professional....
of the Russian Orthodox Church
Russian Orthodox Church
The Russian Orthodox Church or, alternatively, the Moscow Patriarchate The ROC is often said to be the largest of the Eastern Orthodox churches in the world; including all the autocephalous churches under its umbrella, its adherents number over 150 million worldwide—about half of the 300 million...
.
In 1995 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...
. His consecration was performed by Patriarch Volodomyr (Romaniuk)
Patriarch Volodomyr (Romaniuk)
Patriarch Volodymyr was the Patriarch of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church - Kiev Patriarchy....
and bishop Izyaslav of Donetsk
Donetsk
Donetsk , is a large city in eastern Ukraine on the Kalmius river. Administratively, it is a center of Donetsk Oblast, while historically, it is the unofficial capital and largest city of the economic and cultural Donets Basin region...
and Luhansk
Luhansk
Luhansk also known as Lugansk is a city in southeastern Ukraine. It is the administrative center of the Luhansk Oblast . The city itself is also designated as its own separate municipality within the oblast...
.
In 1995-1998 he was the bishop of Khmelnytsk and Kamenets-Podilsk, chancellor of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church - Kiev Patriarchy.
In 1998 he rejoined 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...
. This church was resurrected at the end of the Soviet period by Metropolitan Ioann (Bodnarchuk)
Metropolitan Ioann (Vasiliy Bodnarchuk)
Metropolitan Ioann was an Orthodox priest born in the Ternopil area of Western Ukraine, which at that time was a territory of Poland....
and Bishop Vikentiy (Chekalin).
In 1998, he was the vicar 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...
titled bishop of Kremenets.
On 10 November 1998 he became Archbishop
Archbishop
An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
of Ternopil and Podilsk and Locum Tenens of the Patriarch
Patriarch
Originally a patriarch was a man who exercised autocratic authority as a pater familias over an extended family. The system of such rule of families by senior males is called patriarchy. This is a Greek word, a compound of πατριά , "lineage, descent", esp...
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...
.
On 16 October 2000 - at the Church Sobor
Sobor
A sobor is a council of bishops together with other clerical and lay delegates representing the church as a whole in matters of importance...
of the UAOC,Metropolitan Mefodiy (Kudriakov) was elected (Primate
Primate
A primate is a mammal of the order Primates , which contains prosimians and simians. Primates arose from ancestors that lived in the trees of tropical forests; many primate characteristics represent adaptations to life in this challenging three-dimensional environment...
) 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...
. He is the successor of Patriarch Dymytriy (Yarema)
Patriarch Dymytriy (Yarema)
Patriarch Dymytriy was the second patriarch of Kiev and all Ukraine, and of the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church...
.
As Father & Head of the UAOC worldwide, Mefodiy is Metropolitan of Kyiv & all Ukraine. Since his elevation, he has worked towards global visibility for the church, including a pastoral visits to the United States in 2006 and travels to Western Europe. He has fostered continued positive relations with the Ukrainian government and other religious communities.
In 2005, Metropolitan Mefodiy pursued a legal suit which successfully restored the patriarchal chancery offices and the Church of Saint Demetrius of Thessaloniki to the UAOC. Located adjacent to the famous St. Michael's Golden-Domed Monastery, the premises had been in the use of a schismatic group.
Under the personal supervision of Metropolitan Mefodiy, the Ternopil Orthodox Theological Academy of the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church was renovated and its course of studies completely updated to conform to contemporary academic standards. On October 18, 2008, the first diplomas of the newly-accredited theological school were awarded to qualified graduates in a ceremony in the Cathedral of the Nativity of Christ in Ternopil.
Through the efforts of Metropolitan Meofidy, the Patriarchal Cathedral of the UAOC, the historic Church of St. Andrew the First-Called in Kyiv was returned by the Ukrainian government to the legal possession of the UAOC on May 21, 2008. Prior to the transfer of the title to the UAOC Patriarchate, the church had been part of the historic reserve park "Sofia-Kyiv" while being used for services of the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church