In the
world - Vasyl
Andriyovych Solodukha
Born
05.10.1948
Name Day
- April 21
Consecration
- 31.03.1990
Chairs
Cathedra since 25.08.1992
Metropolitan Niphont was born on October 5, 1948 in the village of Galyna Volya, Starovyzhiv district of the Volyn region in a
peasant family.
In 1963 he graduated from
the eight year school. Throughout 1963-1967 he worked in the collective farm, and from 1967 till 1969 did his military service
in the Soviet Army. In 1969-1970 he worked in the rail depot of Brest.
From 1970 till 1974he studied in the
Moscow Theological Seminary.
On March 20, 1974 he was tonsured a monk with the name of Niphont after the Holy Hierarch
Niphont, the wonderworker of Kyiv Caves.
On April 15, 1974 he was ordained hierodeacon. The same year he was enlisted to the Moscow Theological Academy.
On February 26, 1977 he was ordained hieromonk and on graduation of the MTA was sent to the
Volyn Diocese.
On March 18, 1977 - appointed rector of
the Holy Trinity Church of the village of Rudka Kozynska of the Volyn region.
In 1988 he was elevated to the rank of archimandrite,
in 1989 -appointed Dean of the Rozhyshchensky Deanery of the Volyn Diocese.
On March 31, 1990 he was consecrated Bishop of Khmelnytskyi and Kamyanets-Podilskyi.
On August 25, 1992 the Right Reverend Niphont
was appointed administrator of the Volyn Diocese.
On July 28, 1993 elevated to the rank of
Archbishop. Since April 11, 2001 - Metropolitan of Lutsk and Volyn.
Activity
- The annual concert for orphans was established. In
2007 the action was held for the 13th time.
- The construction
of the Cathedral of All the Saints of Volyn started.
- The annual sacred
procession across Lutsk was
established in the closest week to August 12 - in memory of the notorious
events of August 1992, when the representatives of the radical nationalist
forces captured the Holy Trinity Cathedral of Lutsk.
- The tradition was
established to hold a sacred procession in the streets of Lutsk from the Holy Protection Church to the Cathedral of All Saints of Volyn on October
22, on the eve of commemoration day of All the Saints of Volyn.
- On the petition
of Metropolitan Niphont the copy of the Icon "Pantanassa" (Queen of All) was
made and sent to Lutsk, known as wonderworking healer of cancer.
- Three monasteries were founded.
- In the districts of the diocese the religious
enlightenment centers have been established.
- A missionary circle has been organised.
- In the Volyn
Theological Seminary he has initiated reading of the unsleeping Psalter during
Lent.
- The traditional
annual pedestrian pilgrimage of the pupils of the Volyn Theological Seminary to
the Holy Dormition Pochayiv Lavra has been initiated in the first week of the
Peter's fast.
- The weekly programme "Bells of Volyn" has been
established.
- The missionary
work has been established in the military units, in places of detention, with
the employees of the Internal Affairs Agencies and the other power
structures.
- In the territory
of the UMIA in the Volyn Region the chapel has been built in honour of the
deceased militiamen.
- The tradition has
been established to hold annually a sacred procession on May 22 to the memorial
of the holy patron of Lutsk St.Nicholas. The monument was erected by the town
authorities on the initiative of Vladyka Niphont on the occasion of 2000 years
of the Nativity of Christ.
- The handbook "Law
of God" was published in Ukrainian, and the New Testament was re-issued.
- Throughout the
churches of the diocese started the benefactor action for the people with
visual deficiency - the funds collected during the year on the Sunday of the
Blind man (the sixth week after the Easter) are solemnly transferred to the
regional organization of the Ukrainian Community of Blind, with which the Volyn
Diocese always keeps in touch.
- For visually
handicapped the prayer book printed in Braille has been
published.
- The choir
consisting of visually handicapped people has been organised. The team sings at the divine services and
takes part in the Christmas charitable concerts.
- The construction of
the church for visually handicapped people has started, where the divine
services with corresponding commentaries will be held.
Awarded
Church awards:
1998 - the Order of the Ukrainian
Orthodox Church of the Venerable Anthony and Theodosius of Caves of the 2nd
degree by His Beatitude Metropolitan of Kyiv and All Ukraine Volodymyr on the occasion of his 50th anniversary. Awarded by His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II
the Order of the ROC of the Holy and Right-believing Prince Daniel of Moscow of the 2nd degree.
1999 - Awarded the Order of the Holy Equal to the Apostles Great
Prince Vladimir of the 3rd degree
with bestowing on a title of "Senior commander of the Order of the Holy
Prince Vladimir" by His Beatitude Metropolitan of Kyiv and All Ukraine Volodymyr.
2000 - the anniversary medal
"Nativity of Christ" of the 1st degree.
2002 - the anniversary medal "10
years of the Kharkiv Council" of the 1st degree.
2003 - the Order of the Holy Equal to the Apostles Great Prince Vladimir of the 2nd
degree. Awarded the Order of the ROC of St.Sergius of Radonezh by His Holiness
Patriarch Alexy II.
2005 - the Order of the UOC of the
Holy Apostle John the Theologian of the 2nd degree on the occasion of the 15
anniversary of bishop ordination.
State and public awards:
1997 - by the decision of the Central Council of "Union Chornobyl Ukraine" awarded the medal "For Humanism"
1998 - candidate in the nomination "Benefactor of the year" in the programme "Man of the Year 98" of Lutsk. Awarded Certificate of Merit "For the selfless work on the spiritual
revival of Volyn, active participation in organisation and carrying out the
charitable actions" by the Volyn Regional council of the People's Deputies.
1999 - declared the Benefactor of the year in the programme "Man of the year of the Volyn land'99". Awarded the state Order "For Merits" of the 3rd degree.
2001 - the commemorative medal by the President of Ukraine on the occasion of 10 years of Independence of
Ukraine. Awarded by the Volyn regional state administration with a Laureate diploma
of the regional patronship and sponsorship.
Twice - in 2003, 2004 - awarded the commemorative
badge "Giving my heart to Children" by the head of the Children's Fund of Ukraine
(in 2003 - first in the Volyn Region).
2003 - the government order "For Merits" of the 2nd degree. Awarded the lapel badge "Perfect
frontier guard" of the 1st degree. By the MGO "Cossacks of Zaporizhzhya" awarded the Order "Cossack Glory" of the 1st degree.
2006 - the Golden Medal "Cossack Glory" and the medal of 10 years of the MGO "Cossacks of Zaporizhzhya".
2007 - the distinction of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine "For assistance to the law enforcement agencies of Ukraine". | |
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