Permanent
member of the Holy Synod
In the
world - Ivan
Yakovych Kobzev
Born
07.02.1938
Name Day - November 17
Consecration
- 13.12.1988
In the Diocesan See since 1991
Metropolitan Ioannikiy of Luhansk and Alchevsk (Ivan Yakovych Kobzev) was born on February 7, 1938 in the village of Novoselivtsi, Belenikhin disctrict of the Belgorod Region (Russia) in a farmer's family. In 1955 he completed his 7 year general education.
In 1955-1958 he worked in construction in Belgorod. Throughout 1958-1960 he studied in Kyiv Theological Seminary and after its closure he continued his studies in the
Theological Seminary of Odesa in 1960-1962.
In 1966 he graduated from Moscow
Theological Academy
with a scientific degree of Candidate of Theological Science for the research
paper "The Venerable Ignatius (Brianchaninov) and His Orthodox Outlook".
Studying in the Theological
Seminary of Moscow he was enlisted to the brethren of the Moscow Holy Trinity
Lavra. On November 16, 1964 he was tonsured a monk. On November 24 he was ordained hierodeacon.
From 1966 till 1971 in the
period of tenure of the Holy Patriarchs Alexius (Symansky) and Pimen (Izvekov)
he bore obedience at the Moscow Patriarchy.
On April 7, 1969 he was ordained hieromonk and in two years, in
1971 he was elevated to the rank of hegumen.
In 1971 he became teacher of Odesa Theological
Seminary.
In 1983 he was elevated to the rank of
archimandrite.
In 1986 he was appointed
Rector of the Cathedral of the Holy Protection in Izmayil and the Dean of the Izmayil Deanery.
On December 13, 1988 archimandrite Ioannikiy was
consecrated bishop of Slovyansk, Vicar of the Diocese of Odesa and Kherson.
From February 19, 1990 he
performed his ministry as bishop of Donetsk
and Luhansk. From 1991 he was bishop of Luhansk and Starobilsk.
In 1993 he was elevated to
the rank of Archbishop, and in 2001 - of Metropolitan.
From March 31, 2007, for
the reason of division of the Diocese of Luhansk into two separate dioceses (Journal No.57
of the session of the Holy Synod of the UOC) he bears a title "Metropolitan of Luhansk and
Alchevsk".
In view of growth of the number
of dioceses he is included into the number of permanent members of the Holy
Synod of the UOC (Journal No.47). | 
