The Most Reverend IRINEY, Metropolitan of Dnipropetrovsk and Pavlohrad

In the world - Ivan Petrovych Seredniy

Born 10.05.1939

Name Day - September 5

Consecration - 27.07.1975

Chairs Cathedra since 27.07.1996

Metropolitan of Dnipropetrovsk and Pavlohrad Iriney was born on May 10, 1939 in the village of Stovpyn, Korets district of the Rivne Region in the peasant family.

Upon completion of his studies in the secondary school in 1957 he entered the Leningrad (St.Petersburg) Theological Seminary, and graduated in 1961. The same year he continued his studies in the Leningrad Theological Academy. In December 1963 when he was a third year student he was called up to the military service in the Soviet Army and served there for three years. In November 1966 he resumed his studies in the LTA from which he graduated in 1968 with an academic degree of Candidate of Theology for the research paper "Letters of St.Cyprian, Bishop of Carthage".

On May 21, 1968 he was ordained deacon in the state of celibate by Metropolitan of Leningrad and Novhorod Nicodemus (Rotov, †1978) in the church of the Leningrad Theological Academy, and the next day, on May 22, he was ordained priest in the St.Michael Cathedral of Leningrad. He performed his pastoral ministry in the Holy Trinity Cathedral of Leningrad.  

In 1968-69 he was a professorial scholar at the Leningrad Theological Academy at the department of Canonical Law.  At the end of the year he presented the scholarship report on the subject "Works of Russian Canonists O.S.Pavlov, I.S. Berdnikov, V.N. Beneshevich and V.S. Troitsky". 

From the beginning of 1969 he was a teacher of Canonical Law in the LTA. At the same time he held a post of secretary of the Scientific Council of the Academy and of senior assistant to the Inspector.  

On September 1, 1970 he was tonsured monk with the name Iriney after the Hieromartyr Irenaeus, Bishop of Lyons.  

From March 13, 1971 till July 16, 1975 he performed ministration in Japan at the position of clergyman of the Moscow Patriarch's metochion in Tokyo.  Shortly before the journey he was elevated to the rank of archimandrite in the Holy Trinity Cathedral of the St. Alexander Nevsky Lavra. 

On his return from Japan by the decree of His Holiness the Patriarch and the Holy Synod from July 25, 1975 he was nominated Bishop of Ufa and Sterlitamak (Juornal №20).

On July 26, 1975 in the White hall of the Moscow Patriarchy the nomination of archimandrite Iriney as Bishop of Ufa and Sterlitamak was performed by His Holiness Patriarch Pimen, Metropolitan of Leningrad and Novgorod Nicodemus, the Patriarch's Exarch of the Western Europe Metropolitan of Tallinn and Estonia Alexy, Metropolitan of Tula and Belev Yuvenaly. 

On July 27, 1975 His Holiness Patriarch Pimen, Metropolitan of Leningrad and Novgorod Nicodemus, the Patriarch's Exarch of the Western Europe Metropolitan of Tallinn and Estonia Alexy, Metropolitan of Tula and Belev Yuvenaly at the Divine Liturgy in the Theophany Cathedral consecrated archimandrite Iriney Bishop of Ufa and Sterlitamak. 

On the delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church from October 31 till November 3, 1975 Bishop Iriney accompanied the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Pimen to Bucharest (Romania) for the participation in celebrations of the 50th anniversary of the patriarchy and 90th anniversary of autocephaly of the Romanian Orthodox Church. 

From February 19 till 27, 1976 he was detached for service to the Republic of Sierra Leone (Freetown) at the head of the delegation of the ROC, where he participated in the consultations of the Christian Peace Conference in the West Africa.  He also visited the Republic of Senegal (Dakar) with mission. 

By the decree of His Holiness the Patriarch and the Holy Synod of July 19, 1976 (Journal №27) he was appointed Bishop of Serpukhov, Vicar of the Moscow Diocese, with assignment to rule the Patriarch parishes in Canada and temporary in the USA. At this post he had served for 6 years until July 16, 1982. The prominent event in the period of his service in the USA was the visit of His Holiness Patriarch Pimen to New-York, where His Holiness spoke out with peace-making initiative at the regular session of the UN, and performed divine services in the Orthodox parishes.  It was the first arrival to the American continent of His Holiness the Patriarch of Moscow in the history.  

July 16, 1982 by the decree of the Holy Synod and His Holiness Patriarch Pimen (Journal №28) he was assigned Archbishop of Alma-Ata and Kazakhstan with elevation to the rank of archbishop.  He had served there about two years.  

By the decree of His Holiness Patriarch Pimen and the Holy Synod of March 28, 1984 (Journal №5) appointed Archbishop of Kharkiv and Bogodukhiv.  He had served there till 1989.

From August 9 till 24, 1987 at the head of inter-religious Soviet delegation he visited the Republic of Madagascar (Atananarivu) where he participated in celebrations commemorating the 150th anniversary since the death of the first Malagasy Christian Martyr   Rasalama.

By the decree of His Holiness Patriarch Pimen and the Holy Synod of September 13, 1989 (Journal № 79) he was appointed Archbishop of Lviv and Drogobych, administrator of the Lviv Diocese, and the Holy Archimandrite of the Holy Dormition Pochayiv Lavra; he had served there about a year. 

By the decree of His Holiness Patriarch Pimen and the Holy Synod of April 10, 1990 (Journal №69) he was appointed Archbishop of Rivne and Ostrog for the reason of establishing two separate dioceses in Volyn: the Diocese of Volyn and Lutsk and the Rivne and Ostrog Diocese. 

By the resolution of the Holy Synod of the UOC of October 19, 1993 (Journal №25) he was appointed Archbishop of Dnipropetrovsk and Kryvyi Rih.

In 1995 the administration of the UAOC addressed His Beatitude with the request to start the dialogue for reuniting of the Ukrainian Orthodoxy. For conducting the dialogue the commission with Archbishop of Dnipropetrovsk and Kryvyi Rih Iriney at the head was created according to the decision of the Holy Synod of the UOC of November 22, 1995 (Journal №67). On the committee there were also the Rector of The Kyiv Theological Academy and Seminary protopriest Mykolay Zabuga and the teacher of the KTS Sergiy Bukin.  Six sessions were held but the dialogue stopped because of the schism in the UAOC.

By the resolution of the Holy Synod of the UOC of July 27, 1996 (Journal №31) in the Dnipropetrovsk area two separate dioceses were founded: the Diocese of Dnipropetrovsk with the title for ruling bishop "of Dnipropetrovsk and Pavlohrad", and the Diocese of Kryvyi Rih with the title for ruling bishop "of Kryvyi Rih and Nikopol".  Vladyka Iriney was appointed Archbishop of Dnipropetrovsk and Pavlohrad, temporary administrator of the Kryvy Rih Diocese. 

By the resolution of the Holy Synod of the UOC of September 12, 1996 (Journal №37) he was removed from the administration of the Kryvyi Rih Diocese in connection with appointment of the permanent bishop to the cathedra. 

Since 2001   - in the rank of Metropolitan.

 

Activity at the Cathedra

Due to the work of Metropolitan Iriney the Diocese of Dnipropetrovsk has been spiritually renewed and is constantly developing.  Throughout the past 14 years about 350 priest and deacon ordinations have been performed.  The Diocese has been refilled with 150 priests, and their educational level is under incessant control:  the priests with no spiritual education are studying at per correspondence departments of the seminaries, academies and theological higher educational institutions. Many priests have secular higher education. 

Now in the territory of the Diocese of Dnipropetrovsk there are 5 active monasteries. The Samara Skete St.Nicholas Monastery was founded in 1602. Closed in times of persecutions, now it is being restored with the aid of benefactors  and by the efforts of brethren under the guidance of archimandrite Dosifey (Savelov). 

Almost in every parish the Sunday schools for adults and children function. In some higher educational establishments, gymnasiums, schools and preschool institutions the teaching of Basis of the Orthodox Faith is introduced.  

 

Missionary work

In autumn 1993 the Union of Orthodox Youth "Svitlo" was registered at the Diocese of Dnipropetrovsk, its aim being the spiritual improvement and the distribution of theological knowledge among the youth.  The Magazine-newspaper "Slovo" is very much of help in this connection.  Since 1999 its supplements have been issued: "Motherland is a Smaller Church" and "Orthodox medical Leaflet".  

In 1998 was renewed the publication of the chronicles "Dnipropetrovsk diocesan bulletin" (Dnipropetrovski Eparhialni Vedomosti), which was published as far as in the XIХ century with the name "Katerynoslav diocesan bulletin". Since 2001 the "Church News"have been published - the missionary edition of the information department of the Orthodox Library Listvytsia.

Due to the regular appearance of Metropolitan Iriney and the priests of the diocese on the radio, TV and press the people learn about the life of the Orthodoxy.  For 10 years on the 34 city TV channel the programmes "Archpastoral homilies", "Memorable Church dates and events" have been broadcast. At the regional TV Vladyka delivers sermons "Not by Bread Alone" every Saturday. Every Thursday on the radio Sobor one can hear not only the sermon of the Archpastor, but also the answers to the numerous questions of the radio audience. The articles, references, notes, greetings and memoirs of Metropolitan Iriney have been published in the magazines "Tekhnopolis", "Leader of Prydniprovya", "Stozhary", "Business World of Dnirpopetrovsk", "Business Class", "Time, Events, Peoples"; in the newspapers "Evening Dnipro", "Our City", "Zorya", "Visti Prydniprovya". 

Almost for two years at a run (2005-2006) the press service of the Dnipropetrovsk Diocese won in the nomination "Best Diocesan Press Service" by the results of the competition calculated by the Press service of the UOC.  The Dnipropetrovsk Diocese together with "Listvytsya" has its own web-page - www.lestvіtsa.dp.ua.

The series of video movies "Orthodox Prydniprovya" and "Spiritual grassland" were launched; at the city TV channel the best programmes of the programme production house "Listvytsia" are broadcast: the children's programme "Calling to Dunyahsa", and the weekly informational analytical review "Sedmitsa".  "Bulletin of the Pavlohrad Deanery", "Bulletin of the Novomoskovsk Deanery", the newspapers "Alpha" at the Holy Annunciation Church, "Way to the Church", "Tabor", "Soboryane" and other parish periodicals are published. Since 1998 the monthly magazine "Save Our Souls" together with the children's supplement "Veselka" (Rainbow) and the newspaper "Peace" have been published. Since 2000 - the newspaper and magazine "Nachalo" (Beginning) with the magazine supplement for children "Bohdan" have been published.  In 2006 for all those interested in the liturgical chant the first issue of the magazine "Regent" (Choirmaster) with a CD supplement was issued.  The three latter editions are distributed not only in the territory of Ukraine but in the countries of the CIS.

 

Cooperation with government institutions and public organisations.

The diocese actively cooperates with different organisations and government institutions in the field of Orthodox enlightenment.  With the assistance of the Regional Administration of the Ministry of Internal Affairs the St.George the Trophy-Bearer Church was built. There is a memorial plate with the names of the militia employees who died in the discharge of their duties. The church in the premises of administration of "Miskelektrotrans" was opened.  In many hospitals of the city and region the churches are kept, and the hospital deanery functions. 

The aim that the progressive Orthodox pedagogues, psychologists and the priests pursue is to get the knowledge of the norms of ethics and moral across to the younger generation intelligibly, through the life examples.   One of the first steps in this respect became the educational programme "Christian ethics", worked out by the Dnipropetrovsk teachers of Sunday schools with the talented pedagogue Olena Rogova at the head.  This teacher edition, one out of seven submitted to consideration of the high ministerial commission, was approved as the only one admissible for the schools of Ukraine.

 

Cultural events

The annual festivals of the Orthodox spiritual chant "From Christmas to Christmas" and "Easter chants", the Archangel Michael philosophical theological readings "Orthodoxy in the World's Culture", celebrations of the Day of Slavic writing  and culture, the festival of chime - all that play a special part in the revival of spirituality in the Dnipropetrovsk land.  In the diocese the choirmaster school, catechization courses and Orthodox brotherhoods are actively functioning.

On the blessing of Metropolitan Iriney, due to the mutual efforts of the Dnipropetrovsk diocesan administration of the UOC, the Dnipropetrovsk City Rada and its Executive Committee, with the assistance of the Major of the city the Nativity Festival has been held for 13 years at a run, and the Easter Evenings Festival has been held for 3 years at a run.

With the appointment of Vladyka to the Dnipropetrovsk cathedra in the regional centre the pious tradition was initiated to accompany the Christmas celebrations with the performance of the best choirs of the city. The festivals were very modest at the beginning. For the first year the event gathered only 8 choirs, the church ones for the most part. For the next few years the number of participants increased, and the secular choirs joined.  The 10^th anniversary Festival gathered 75 groups from all the regions of Ukraine. 

The 12^th Festival may be de facto considered international; therefore the administration of the City Culture Department has already submitted an application for renaming the festival from the All-Ukraine into the international festival. 

The Easter festival is similar to the Christmas one, and it is planned to be held annually. The main task of the events is singling out and summarizing the stylistic variety of the Orthodox Christmas and Easter chants.

For three years at a run in the middle of November the Philosophical Theological Conference "Orthodoxy n the World Culture" has been held in the Dnipropetrovsk State Finance Academy. The event was called the Holy Archangel Michael Readings.  At this gathering of the scientific elite the scientists, culturologists and philosophers, coming from all the quarters of our country and the neighbouring ones, such as Russia, Byelorussia and Romania, strive to hear the voice and thought of the Church, as a proprietor and guard of Truth. The discussion between the secular scientists and theologians pursues the only aim - to find the ways of bringing up the youth.  Since the responsibility for every young soul is both on the representatives of science and on the members of the church. The organisers of the Readings are the Dnipropetrovsk Diocese of the UOC, the Department of Humanities of the Dnipropetrovsk State Finance Academy, the Department of Philosophy of the Dnipropetrovsk State University and the editorial board of the interuniversity digest "Philosophy. Culture. Life".   

On May 24, the commemoration day of the Holy Equal to the Apostles Cyril and Methodius, teachers of  the Slavs, on the blessing of Metropolitan Iriney in the regional centre the annual celebrations dedicated to  Day of Slavic Writing and Culture under the slogan "Glory to You, brothers enlighteners of Slavs"  take place.   The organiser and participant of this festival is the team of Centre of the Orthodox Culture "Listvytsia", directed by protopriest Ighor Sobko. 

 

Charitable organisations and funds

With the blessing of Metropolitan Iriney in the Dnipropetrovsk Diocese the charitable organizations and funds successfully function, with the task of preserving faith and purity of the Orthodox Church. 

At the Diocese its charitable mission and preservation of canonical Orthodoxy from heresies, schisms and sects perform the regional organisation "Orthodox Way" and the city Centre of assistance to victims of the destructive cults "Dialogue".

The Orthodox Youth Brotherhood of the Holy Martyr Tatiana is established at the St.Panteleimon Church of Dnipropetrovsk by its rector protopriest Olexander Grishin, who is its spiritual director.  

The Benevolent Association of the St.Nicolas the Wonderworker functions at the Holy Protection Church of the residential area Odinkivka.  Due to the efforts of the clergy and the administration of the Association the Orthodox Children's camp Pokrov was organised, gathering in the summer more than 200 children from the whole Ukraine. 

The fund "Island of Hope" was established due to the collective efforts of the parishioners of the Icon of the Mother of God of the Iveron Church in the residential area "Pivnicnnyi" of Dnipropetrovsk and due to the efforts of the young and devoted rector of this church protopriest Mykolay Nesprava. 

All the organisations have set the tasks and goals for themselves, oriented at the benefit of the Holy Orthodoxy, Church and people: enlightenment, missionary work, construction and the charitable work. 

In the diocese every year the choirmaster school and the catechization courses are growing in strength every year.  There all the willing can receive the education in the field of the church art and theological disciplines. 

In 2006 due to the efforts of the ruling bishop the construction of the new three-storey administrative centre of the Dnipropetrovsk Diocese was completed and it was opened, and the sculpture of the holy patron of the city the Holy Great Martyr Catherine was installed in front of the building.



AWARDED

Church Awards:

1. 1974 - the Order of the Holy Equal to the Apostles Great Prince Vladimir of the 3^rd degree.

2. 1979 - the Order of St. Sergius of Radonezh of the 3^rd degree.

3. 1982 - the Order of St. Sergius of Radonezh of the 2^nd degree.

4. 1989 - the Order of the Holy Equal to the Apostles Great Prince Vladimir of the 2^nd degree.

5. 1990 - the Order of the Holy Equal to the Apostles Mary Magdalene (the highest award of the Orthodox Church of Poland).

6. 1999 - in connection with the 60^th anniversary was granted the Order of the ROC of the Holy and Right-believing Prince Daniel of Moscow of the 2^nd degree; and the Order of the Holy Equal to the Apostles Prince Vladimir with bestowing upon the title of "Senior of the Order of the Holy Prince Vladimir".

7. June 18, 2000 - in course of the anniversary celebrations of in Jerusalem was awarded by Patriarch Diodor the anniversary medal dedicated to the Descent of the Holy Spirit to the Apostles.

8. December 10, 2000, on the 2000 year celebration of the Nativity of Christ in the Dnipropetrovsk lands he was awarded the Jubilee Order "Nativity of Christ - 2000" of the 1^st degree.

9. 2002 - the anniversary medal "10 years of the Kharkiv Council" of the 1^st degree.  

10. On July 27, 2005 - on the occasion of the 30^th anniversary of the bishop ordination His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II granted Vladyka Iriney the Order of the ROC of the Venerable Seraphim of Sarov of the 2^nd degree for the services for the Church.

11. On July 28, 2005 - was awarded the Order of the UOC of the Venerable Nestor the Chronicler Of the 1st degree. The award was handed by His Beatitude Metropolitan of Kyiv and All Ukraine for services to the Church and on the occasion of the  30^th anniversary of the bishop ordination.   

For the many year service to the Holy Church awarded numerous certificates of merit and certificates of appreciation.

 

State awards:

1. 1965 - in the years of military service awarded the anniversary state medal "20 years of Victory in the Great World War".

2. 1988 - Honorary medal of the Soviet Fund for Peace.

3. September 20, 1996 by the decision of the Academic Council of the Prydniprovya State Medical Academy (proceedings No.10) he was granted the status of honorary member of the Academic Council of PSMA (Certificate PN № 004).

4. 1999 - awarded the Order "For Merits" of the 3rd degree by the President of Ukraine L.D.Kuchma. 

5. September 5, 2000 - awarded the distinction "For the development of the region" by the Head of the Dnipropetrovsk regional state administration M.A. Shvets. 

6. May 28, 2001 - awarded the Order "Cossack Glory" of the 2^nd degree.

7. September 15, 2001 - on the occasion of 225 years of Dnipropetrovsk received the Distinction of the City Head. 

8. September 20, 2001 - awarded the anniversary badge on the occasion of 100 years of the State Epidemiological Sanitary service of the Dnipropetrovsk region. 

9. December 14, 2001 - by the decree of the Administration of the Internal Affairs of Ukraine the Dnipropetrovsk region he was awarded the Badge of Honour. 

10. March 18, 2002 - by the decree of the Commander of the Internal Security Troops of MIA he was awarded the distinction "10 years of the Internal Security Troops of MIA". 

11. June 21, 2002 - by the resolution of the head of the Dnipropetrovsk regional state administration he was awarded the distinction "For the development of the region".

12. September 4, 2002 - by the decree of the Minister of Emergencies, General of Internal forces of Ukraine V.V.Durdinets he was awarded the Honorary Distinction of the Ministry of Emergencies of Ukraine.

13. September 5, 2002 - by the decree of the Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine Yu.A. Smirnov he was awarded the distinction of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine "Cross of Glory".

14. September 7, 2002 - was awarded the Order "Cossack Glory" of the 1st degree.

15. March 3, 2003 - by the order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine awarded the Badge of Honour of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the 1st degree.

16. May 8, 2003 - by the order of Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine in the Dnipropetrovsk region awarded the commemorative medal "10 years of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine".

17. October 19, 2003 - on the occasion of 10 years of his tenure of the Dnipropetrovsk cathedra he was granted by the major of Dnipropetrovsk I.I.Kulichenko the commemorative medal "For Services to the City".

18. January 20, 2004 - was awarded by the Minister of the Defense of Ukraine Major General Yu.E.Shapoval the commemorative badge "60^th anniversary of the 6^th Guards troops" in Dnipropetrovsk.

19. May 9, 2004 - by the decree of Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine in the Dnipropetrovsk region he was awarded the distinction "For Assistance to the Law Enforcement Agencies of Ukraine".

20. May 11, 2004 - by the decree of the President of Ukraine awarded the Order "For Merits" of the 1st degree.

21. May 21, 2004 - by the decision of the session of the Pershotravensk town council of the Dnipropetrovsk region he was awarded the anniversary lapel badge "For Services to the town of Pershotravensk".

22. May 10, 2005 - he was awarded the Cossack Order of the Holy Great Martyr George the Trophy-bearer of the 1st degree. The Order was handed by the Cossack Chieftain of the Katerinoslav Cossack district G.Chumak.  

23. July 12, 2005 - by the order of the Cossack Chieftain of the Association of the Cossack organisations of Slobozhanshchina  A.A.Isaev he was awarded the Cross  "Cossack Unity" of the 1st degree.

24. Awarded the golden medal "Cossack Glory". The award was handed over by the Cossack Chieftain of Kyiv and All Rus, Cossack Marshall Dmytro Sagaidak in Dnipropetrovsk July 31, 2005.

25. September 18, 2005 - by the decision of the Executive Committee of the Ternivka town council he was awarded the medal "For the considerable contribution in the development of the town of Ternivka". The award was handed over by the Major of the town S.F.Dudin at the solemn assembly in the Palace of Culture of Ternivka.

26. December 2, 2005 - awarded the badge "For services to the city of Kryvyi Rih".

Besides, awarded numerous certificates of merit and certificates of appreciation.