Elected May 27, 1992 Name Volodymyr Sabodan Ordination June 15, 1962 | Successor Metropolitan Onuphrius Consecration July 9, 1966 Signature | |
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Died July 5, 2014, Kiev, Ukraine | ||
Metropolitan Vladimir (Volodymyr; secular name Viktor Markianovich Sabodan, Russian: Виктор Маркианович Сабодан, Ukrainian: Віктор Маркіянович Сабодан, November 23, 1936 – July 5, 2014) was the head of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) (UOC-MP) from 1992 to 2014. Metropolitan Volodymyr's official title was His Beatitude Vladimir, Metropolitan of Kiev and all Ukraine. As head of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate), he was the head of the only Ukrainian Church inside Ukraine to have canonical standing (legal recognition) in Eastern Orthodoxy worldwide.
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Early life
Viktor Sabodan was born November 23, 1936 in a peasant family in Letychiv Raion of Vinnytsia Oblast (today - Khmelnytskyi Oblast).
In the late 1950s and early 1960s he studied at Odessa and later Leningrad Theological Seminary.
In 1965 he completed the post-graduate course at the Moscow Theological Academy and was appointed Rector of the Odessa Theological Seminary and elevated to the rank of Archimandrite. In 1966 he was appointed Deputy Head of the Russian Orthodox Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem.
Episcopacy
In 1966 he was appointed Bishop of Zvenigorod. His episcopal consecration was conferred on July 9, 1966 by Pimen I of Moscow in the Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius. In 1969 he was nominated Bishop of Chernihiv and temporary administrator of Sumy Diocese. On September 9, 1973 he was elevated to the rank of Archbishop of Moscow Diocese and Rector of the Moscow Theological Academy and Seminary. On July 16, 1982 he was appointed to Rostov-on-Don Diocese and elevated to the rank of Metropolitan. From 1984 he was Patriarchal Exarch of Western Europe, and from 1987, a permanent member of the Holy Synod, Chancellor of Moscow Patriarchate. In 1992, he was elected by the Kharkiv Council of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church as Metropolitan of Kiev, and Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. Later than year he was enthroned as Metropolitan of Kiev and all Ukraine, replacing Metropolitan Filaret who was excommunicated for participating in schismatic activities.
He is the author of numerous research papers on theology, the majority of which were included in the six-volume edition of his works published in 1997–1998.
Metropolitan Volodymyr enjoyed singing and collected recordings of Ukrainian folk songs as well as stamps and postcards. He had no objections to a good meal.
In January 2008, Metropolitan Volodymyr performed the service of consecration of the altar and temple in Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.
In 2011 he was awarded the title Hero of Ukraine.
Death
He died on July 5, 2014 from internal bleeding at the age of 78. Metropolitan Onuphrius was elected his successor on August 13, 2014.