His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry celebrates 80th birthday

His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry. Photo: UOC

Orest Berezovsky (the future Primate's birth name) was born in 1944 in the village of Korytne in the Vyzhnytsia district (formerly Vashkivtsi district) of the Chernivtsi region, in a priest's family.

In 1961, after finishing school, he enrolled in the Chernivtsi Technical School, then worked in local construction organizations. In 1966, he entered the General Technical Faculty of Chernivtsi University. After three years of study, he enrolled in the Moscow Theological Seminary.

Two years before completing his studies, Orest joined the brotherhood of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra, and on March 18, 1971, he became a monk, receiving the name Onuphrius in honor of Saint Onuphrius the Great.

On June 20 of the same year, Monk Onuphry was ordained as a hierodeacon, and on May 29, 1972, as a hieromonk. That same year, he enrolled in the Moscow Theological Academy, graduating in 1978 with a degree in theology.

In 1980, he was elevated to the rank of hegumen. On August 28, 1984, he was appointed rector of the Transfiguration Church of the Athos Representation in Lukino (Peredelkino station, Moscow region). On June 28, 1985, the future Primate was appointed Dean of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra, and at Christmas the following year, he was elevated to the rank of archimandrite.

From July 20, 1988, to November 1990, he served as abbot of the Pochaiv Lavra. He became a bishop on December 9, 1990, ordained by the former Metropolitan of Kyiv and All Ukraine, Filaret Denysenko, who later backslid into schism to become head of the Kyiv Patriarchate.

In 1992, Bishop Onuphry of Chernivtsi opposed the non-canonical actions of then-Metropolitan Filaret. As a result, Filaret removed him from the Chernivtsi See. However, clergy and believers defended their shepherd, and in April of that year, Bishop Onuphry was reinstated to the Chernivtsi See.

In 1994, he was elevated to the rank of archbishop, in 2000 to metropolitan, and on August 13, 2014, was elected Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church through a secret ballot.

As previously reported by the UOJ, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry addressed Bishop Seraphim of Novovorontsovka, vicar of the Novokakhovka Eparchy, saying, “The Church entrusts you with people who are experiencing great suffering. Strive to be a loving father to them.”

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