Permanent
member of the Holy Synod In
the world -Olexiy
Ivanovych Savvin
Born 02.09.1938
Name Day
- February, 5
Consecration
- 16.11.1975
Chairs
cathedra since 1992
Metropolitan
of Odesa and Izmayil Agafangel was
born on September 2, 1938 in
the village of Burdino, Terbunsky district of the Lipetsk region (Russia).
In
1956 he graduated from the secondary school.
Throughout
1958-1960 he studied in the Kyiv Theological Seminary, from 1960
till 1962 - in the Odesa Theological
Seminary. From 1962 he continued his studies in
the Moscow Theological Academy, from which he graduated in 1966 with a
scientific degree of candidate of Theology for the scientific thesis "The idea
of penance among the ancient pagan peoples and in the doctrine of the Old
Testament".
In
April 1965 he was enlisted to the brethren of the Holy Trinity St.Sergius Lavra,
and was tonsured monk with the name Arafangel.
On
April 18, 1965 he was ordained hierodeacon, and on April 22 of the same year -
ordained hieromonk.
In 1966
he worked Senior Assistant to Inspector and taught in the Odesa
Theological Seminary. At the same time
he served executive secretary in the Odesa Diocesan Administration.
On April
7, 1967 he was elevated to the rank of hegumen, and on June, 1
- to the rank of archimandrite.
From
1967 till 1975 - Rector of the Odesa Theological Seminary.
November
16, 1975 he was consecrated Bishop of Vinnytsia and Bratslav.
From
1975 till 1990 he ruled the Khmelnytskyi Diocese.
On
September 7, 1981 he was elevated to the rank of archbishop, and on March 10, 1989
- to the rank of Metropolitan.
On
August 7, 1991 he was appointed to Ivano-Frankivsk and Kolomiysk cathedra, but
he refused to go due to non-canonical actions of the former Primate of the UOC Metropolitan
Philaret (Denisenko). On September 7, 1991 Vladyka Agafangel was resigned on
his request.
In
April 1992 he chaired the Vinnytsia cathedra
again.
Since
July 1992 he has been Metropolitan
of Odesa and Izmayil.
His
Eminence is the permanent member of the Holy Synod. Since 1993
was Rector of the Odesa Theological Seminary. From August 27,
1995 till May
31, 2007 -Chairman of the Educational Committee to the Holy
Synod of the UOC.
Activity at Cathedra
During the tenure of the Odesa Diocese by Metropolitan Agafangel the
following monasteries and convents were opened: the St.Panteleimon Monastery,
the St.Elijas Monastery, the Holy Iveron Monastery, the Sts.Constantine and
Helen Monastery, the St.Michael Monastery, the Holy Archangel Michael Convent
and the Holy Transfiguration of Our Saviour Convent. In the diocese more than
300 previously closed churches were opened, and more than 20 new were
built. In Odesa all the bell towers destroyed
in the years of the Soviet power were rebuilt, the Holy Transfiguration of the
Saviour Cathedral was rebuilt and the diocese received back its three-storey
building of the St.Andrew Athos Metochion.
Throughout
1995-1997 at the suggestion of Metropolitan
Agafangel by the decision of the Holy Synod of the UOC Venerable Kuksha of
Odesa, Venerable Gabriel of Athos, Reverend Ionah of Odesa, Archbishop Innokenty
(Borisov) of Kherson, Hieromartyr Anatoly (Grisyuk) of Odesa
Metropolitan
Agafangel - is the Honorary Citizen of the cities of Greenville (Mississippi)
and Baton Rouge (Louisiana) of the USA.
In June, 2004 at the session of the Odesa City Rada he was elected Honorary
Citizen of Odesa.
From
2001, with the blessing of Primate of the UOC His Beatitude Metropolitan of
Kyiv and All Ukraine Volodymyr, Metropolitan Agafangel represents the Ukrainian
Orthodox Church on the delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church at the
negotiations with representatives of the Constantinople Patriarchate concerning
the question of healing schisms and disturbances in Ukraine.
Metropolitan
Agafangel is a participant of the two international church
conferences dedicated to the 2000th anniversary of the
Nativity of Christ, which took place in 1997 and 1998
in Simpheropol and in the Pochayiv Lavra. Under the patronage of Vladyka
the International Conference of the Fund for Unity of the Orthodox Nations
"Orthodoxy and the threat of the system crisis of the world post-industrial
community, global economics and the governmental institute of power" was held
from the 20th till 23rd of January, 1999 in Odesa.
Metropolitan
Agafangel pays much attention to the training of the staff of clergymen for the
Ukrainian Orthodox Church, to the religious education of the laity and to the
spiritual and moral upbringing of youth. Almost for ten years being in the rank of archimandrite Vladyka
Agafangel headed the Odesa Theological Seminary, having made it the model
educational establishment in the years of his rectorate. In 1967 the building of the Seminary was
reconstructed, and the church archeological cabinet was opened, which consists
of the large museum collections of the ancient books, icons and the objects of
ornamental and applied art and other rare objects. In 1969 the new educational building was constructed, and in a
year - a hostel, a big assembly hall, new cabinets and a hotel. The Divine services in the Seminary Church
of the Holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called were renewed. The present Seminary architectural ensemble
is a result of the construction works.
The
scope of charitable works in the Odesa Diocese increases progressively. The Odesa Theological Seminary, monasteries
and parishes patronize orphans, aged people, physically challenged and
homeless. Together with the state
medical establishments the departments of mercy and shelters have been organised
in the Kyiv and Primorya districts of Odesa.
The
contacts with the armed forces also have been established. Diocesan clergy,
brethren of monasteries, teachers of the Seminary are present at the
ceremonies of taking oath in the military units; they also visit prisons and
hospitals.
With
the blessing of Metropolitan Agafangel the missionary work is being renewed in
the diocese. Every week pastoral words
are broadcast by radio and TV. In many
churches and monasteries the Sunday schools for adults and children are keeping
on. In the Holy Dormition Patriarch Monastery the off-service discussions with
the parishioners became a tradition.
The
works of Metropolitan Agafangel - the festive Easter and Nativity Epistles,
addresses, greetings and reports, words, sermons, reviews etc - were published
at the pages of "The Journal of the Moscow Patriarchate", "Theological
Works", "Orthodox Bulletin" and other periodicals of the ROC and the UOC.
The
name of Metropolitan Agafangel was entered into the informational biography
directory: "Ukraine: 10 years of Independence. 500 influential personalities."
AWARDED
Church
orders:
1968
- of the Holy and Equal to the Apostles Prince Vladimir of the 3rd
degree.
1969
- of the Holy Apostle and Evangelist Mark of the 2nd degree (the
Orthodox Church of Alexandria); of the Holy and Equal to the Apostles Prince
Vladimir of the 2nd degree.
1981
- of the Holy Apostle and Evangelist Mark of the 1st degree (the
Orthodox Church of Alexandria); of the Holy and Equal to the Apostles Nina of
the 2nd degree (the Georgian Orthodox Church); of the Holy Cross (the
Orthodox Church of Jerusalem).
1985
- of
St. Sergius of Radonezh of the 2nd
degree.
1988
- of the Holy and Equal to the Apostles Prince Vladimir of the 1st
degree.
1998
- of the Holy and Right-believing Prince Daniel of Moscow of the 2nd degree.
2000
- «Nativity
of Christ - 2000» of the 1st
degree; of the Holy Hierarch Innocent of
Moscow of the 2nd degree.
2001
- of the Venerable Nestor the Chronicler of the 2nd degree.
2003
- of the Venerable Nestor the Chronicler of the 3rd degree.
Also
awarded by the order of St.Stephan
the Great of the 2nd degree (Moldavia Metropolis of the
ROC), the Order of the Antiochian Orthodox Church and by the
medals of other Orthodox Churches.
In
1998 he was bestowed the right of wearing the second Panagia.
State
and public awards:
1988
- Certificate of Merit of the Presidium of the Supreme Rada
of the Ukrainian Socialist Republic; Medal of
Peace of the OUN.
1989
- Certificate of Merit of the Presidium of the Supreme Rada
of the Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic.
1990
- Golden insignia of the Odesa regional state administration
and a Certificate of Merit.
1998
- Certificate of Merit and the Medal of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine.
1999
- the Order "For Merits" of the 2nd degree - by
the President of Ukraine.
2000
-the Order of Badge of Honour (Trans-Dniester Moldavian Republic).
2003
- the Order "For Merits" of the 1st
degree - by the President of Ukraine; the Order of Friendship (Russian
Federation); the Order "Chornobyl Cross" (the award of the All Ukraine Public
Organisation "Union Chornobyl Ukraine"); the Order of Suvorov (Trans-Dniester Moldavian Republic).
2004
- the Order of the Holy George the Trophy-bearer of the 1st degree (award
of the Russian Chamber of Personality to the President of the Russian
Federation).
Also
awarded:
- the Order "Glory for Fidelity to
Motherland" of
the 3rd degree;
- the Silver Medal "10
years of Independence of Ukraine" of the 2nd
degree;
- the Order "Cossack Glory"
of the 1st degree;
- the Order of G.Marazli
of the 3rd degree (Odesa Mayor's Office);
-mark of distinction of the Minister of the Interior
of Ukraine;
- Commemorative medal of the Presidium of the Supreme
Rada of the Armenian SSR;
- the Medal of Honour "To
Fighter for Peace" of the Soviet Committee for Peace Protection;
- the Golden
Medal, the Certificate
of Merit, the Medal of Honour and honourable distinction of
the Soviet Fund for Peace;
- 6 Certificates
of Merit of the Ukrainian Council for peace with bestowing a commemorative
medal;
- Certificate of Merit of the
fellowship ‘Ukraine";
- Certificate of Merit of Vinnytsia and Khmelnytskyi
regional departments of the Fund for
Peace;
- Certificate of Merit of Vinnytsia and Khmelnytskyi organization
of the Ukrainian fellowship for the protection of monuments of culture and art. | |
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