Superior
of the Holy Dormition Pochayiv Lavra
In the world- Viorel Lazarevych Moroz
Born 15.08.1959
Name day - July, 28
Consecration - 03.12.2000
Archbishop of
Pochayiv Volodymyr was born on August, 15, 1959 in the village of Molodiya Glybkiv district
Chernivtsy region into a
family of peasants. In 1976 he graduated from the secondary school.
From
1976 till 1977 he worked at the plant Legmash in
Chernivtsy.
From 1977 till 1979 he
served in the Soviet army. In 1979-1980 he was a chief storekeeper in the Diocesan Administration
of Chernivtsy.
In 1980 he became one of the
brethren
of the Holy Dormition Pochayiv Lavra.
In 1982 he was tonsured rassophore monk by
the Superior archimandrite Iakov, and in 1983 tonsured a monk with the name
Volodymyr.
On April, 24, 1983 he was ordained
hierodeacon by metropolitan of Lviv and Ternopil Nikolay (Yurik †1984).
September, 9, 1984 he was elevated to the rank of hieromonk by Metropolitan of
Lviv and Ternopil Nycodym (now Metropolitan of Kharkiv and Bogodukhiv). Bore
obedience in refectory and of the assistant of District Dean.
In 1988 graduated from the Moscow Theological Seminary. In 1989 he was elevated to the rank of hegumen. Bore
obedience of the Sacristan of
Lavra. In 1990 organised men choir in
the Pochayiv Lavra.
June, 24, 1991 - transferred to the clergy
of the Chernivtsy Diocese and appointed Superior of the St.John the Theologian Monastery in the
village of Kreshchatik.
July 7, 1992 - elevated to the rank of archimandrite.
September, 28, 1992 - transferred to the Holy Dormition Pochayiv
Lavra, where he bore obedience of the choir-master, provisor. July 27, 1996 -
appointed Superior of Pochayiv Lavra.
On December, 3, 2000, he was consecrated to the episcopacy with the title of Bishop of Pochayiv, Vicar of the Kyiv Metropolis by the Most Blessed Volodymyr, Metropolitan of Kyiv and All Ukraine in the Holy Dormition Lavra of
Pochayiv.
Activities
On July, 27, 1996
archimandrite Volodymyr was appointed Superior of the Holy Dormition Pochayiv Lavra. Together
with duties of the Superior he had to fulfill duties of economist, engineer, architect and even diplomat.
In 1996 the laymen
were settled out from a monastic cemetery, where they had been destinated by
the Soviet power in 1960-ties. Right after that full land improvement was carried
out, plantings,
tombs, paths and the stone fencing were put into shape; 3 domes on the central gate of a cemetery, 3 domes on
the central gate of the cemetery were installed. In 9 years the forechurch,
topped with the dome, was attached to the cemetery church, and also the dome
was installed above the altar part of the temple.
In 1997 Lavra triumphantly celebrated 400
years of translation of the wonder-working Icon of the Mother of God of
Pochayiv from the estate of Orlya to Pochayiv (15 km). To commemorate this
event near the Holy Gates in the territory of Lavra a chapel with three dooms
was erected.
The same year the Holy Dormition Cathedral
was decorated by two big carved kiots with icons, the central church chandelier
was hung up and the restoration of the external walls was carried out. The facades of architectural constructions are very difficult to keep in the
appropriate state: stucco moulding and complex architectural details are often
ruined by unfavourable environmental factors, lime whiting preserves bad. The new cover on the walls of the temple is to guarantee appropriate appearance and
protection of the construction for many years.
In 1997 the work of the Lavra's mill, an indispensable attribute of any monastery
well-run economy, resumed. Then capital
repairs and restoration of the
Holy Gates had, which lasted for two years.
A year later the part of building, which
had been previously occupied by the psychiatric hospital, was vacated for the
pilgrims' hotel through the efforts of brethren of the monastery.
Between November 3-5, 1998 with the
blessing of His Beatitude Metropolitan Volodymyr, Holy Archimandrite of Lavra,
the International Church and Secular Conference on the occasion of 2000
anniversary of the Nativity of Christ: "Ukraine at the edge of the third
millennium: spirituality, science, education, culture". To commemorate this
event the memorial cross was consecrated. Thus the tradition of high
theological and catechization mission, established by the Venerable Iov, found
its continuation.
The same year a chapel over the well of
Lavra near the mill was built. In 1999 a summer church with night lighting was
built near the bell-tower. In the warm season, especially on the feasts of the Most Holy Theotokos
and of the Icon of the Mother of God of Pochayiv about 20 000 pilgrims
come to Lavra and no temple can receive all willing to get in. Then the whole monastery becomes a single temple, and the open summer church - its
altar.
In 2000 a chapel was
built, and it was consecrated by
His Beatitude Metropolitan Volodymyr in the name of Nativity of Christ. The same year the
psychiatric hospital was
completely settled out from the territory of the monastery, and capital repairs
in its premises were made soon after that. Now the Lavra hotel is situated there. The building attached to the hotel was
reconstructed into block for brothers' No. 3. In 2001 the building of the
hotel was topped with the gilt dome
with a cross.
In 2001 the premises of the polyclinic, the laundry and the drugstore - all
in emergency condition were returned to Lavra.
These building
were reconstructed into block No.1, where now there is an icon shop. The same year three organizations were settled out from the monastery
farmyard, and a new fence was erected around it. A year later the main brothers' block
and block No.1 were united by an underground passage,
which provided
convenience and quickness of transition. The half-ruined tower from the
North -East side of the Holy Trinity Cathedral was replaced by a small
archaized chapel of red brick. In 2003 a parking was settled, and a tunnel for
pilgrims from the parking to Lavra was open. Then the Lavra boiler-house was
completed and expanded.
In 2004
on the gallery in front of an entrance to the Holy Dormition Cathedral a vestibule and block for brothers' No.6 with
house church in the territory of husbandry were constructed. The altar of this
temple was consecrated in honour of the Holy New Martyrs and Confessors of the last time. The same time restoration of the murals of
the Holy Dormition Cathedral and the Refectory Church began.
The same year a block with diesel power
station and cells for brothers was built.
In
2005 the bells were set up over the church of Holy Great Martyr Barbara and
over the chapel near the gallery of the Holy Dormition Cathedral, the murals
of the Church of Laudation, and
iconostasis was gilded. The central bell of the Holy Dormition Cathedral shined with gold too.
In
2001-2003 the clarification of murals of the Holy Dormition Cathedral was carried out. In 2005-2006 capital repairs of the gallery
were carried out, the waterproof finish and tiling were made.
In
2006 the dome of the Holy Dormition Cathedral was gilded, the first floor of
the brothers' block No.7 was completed, at the lower husbandry a new boiler-house was built. Besides,
building of 20 garage premises was over.
One
more object of care of the brethren and the Superior of Lavra became the
renewed Pochayiv Theological Seminary, famous of its traditions of Orthodox
enlightenment. In 2004-2006 capital repairs of the whole building were carried
out, it was crowned with gilded dome with cross and acquired its initial
architectural appearance. The altar of the newly rebuilt seminary church is
consecrated in the name of the Venerable Job and Amphilochius of Pochayiv.
In 2005-2007 a new hotel was erected. Thus
the whole mountain of Pochayiv strived to the graceful heaven with its domes
again, acquiring likeness with green
fruitful garden of the Most Holy Theotokos.
Awarded
Church
Awards:
1998 - the Order of St.Nestor the
Chronicler.
2000 -the anniversary Order "Nativity of Christ" of the 1rst degree; the
Order of the Saint Equal-to-the-Apostles Great Prince Vladimir of the third degree.
2002 - the anniversary medal "10 years of Kharkiv Council" of the
1rst degree.
2004 - the charter for assiduous work in favour of the Holy Church.
2005
- the charter of the Holy Synod of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in honour of
celebration of the 70th anniversary of the Most Blessed Volodymyr,
Metropolitan of Kyiv and All Ukraine.
State
Awards:
2002 - by the decree of the
President of Ukraine awarded by the Order "For Merits" of the third degree. | |
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