Patriarch Dymytriy (Yarema)
Encyclopedia
Patriarch Dymytriy (9 December 1915 – 25 February 2000) was the second patriarch
of Kiev and all Ukraine, and of the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church
(UAOC). Patriarch Dymytriy will forever be known as the patriarch who replaced the irreplaceable Patriarch Mstyslav
.
He was a renaissance man who had studied art and music in his younger years, a leader with a developed political conscious who was a member of the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists in the 1930s.
During World War II
he was a prisoner of war
in Germany
.
He was ordained to the diaconate August 3, 1947, and to the priesthood August 10 of that same year. From 1947 – 1989 he was a member of the clergy
of the Moscow Patriarchate.
In 1989 he and the other members of the clergy left the Moscow Patriarchate and declared to be put under the omophor of the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church
under Metropolitan
Mstyslav (Skrypnyk) who was at that time the head of the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church in USA and Canada
.
By 1990, with the Soviet Union
falling apart, the Rev. Yarema initiated and was a participant in the first All-Ukrainian Sobor of the UAOC
, held in Kiev
in 1990, which elected Metropolitan Mstyslav as the first patriarch
of Ukraine
.
In 1993 he took his monastic vows and then was ordained bishop
of Pereyaslovskiy and Sichevskiy.
On the II Council of this Church in 1993 he was voted Patriarch of Kyiv and all Rus’-Ukraine.
In late 1998 the aging Patriarch Dymytriy, his health weakening and the day-to-day management of the Church and he determined that the future of the Church would be strengthen if it would turn once again to the Ukrainian diaspora, which had maintained the UAOC
during nearly 70 years of Communist rule in Ukraine
.
The choice Patriarch Dymytriy made in his last will and testament to request that the UAOC
hierarchy agree to allow Metropolitan Constantine
to guide it - which, if carried out, would effectively unite the two Churches - was a calculated move to save the UAOC from further incursions from the larger Ukrainian Orthodox Church - Kiev Patriarchate
, and the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate)
.
Patriarch Dymytriy (Yarema) was successor to Patriarch Mstyslav (Skrypnyk) from 1993 to 2000 and was succeeded by Metropolitan Mefodiy (Kudryakov)
.
Patriarch
Originally a patriarch was a man who exercised autocratic authority as a pater familias over an extended family. The system of such rule of families by senior males is called patriarchy. This is a Greek word, a compound of πατριά , "lineage, descent", esp...
of Kiev and all Ukraine, and of the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church
Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church
The Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church is one of the three major Orthodox Churches in Ukraine. Close to ten percent of the Christian population claim to be members of the UAOC. The other Churches are the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Kiev Patriarchate and the Ukrainian Russophile Orthodox...
(UAOC). Patriarch Dymytriy will forever be known as the patriarch who replaced the irreplaceable Patriarch Mstyslav
Patriarch Mstyslav (Stepan Skrypnyk)
Patriarch Mstyslav, secular name Stepan Ivanovych Skrypnyk , was a Ukrainian Orthodox Church hierarch.Born in Poltava , Stepan Skrypnyk was the nephew of Symon Petlura, a prominent Ukrainian military and political figure...
.
He was a renaissance man who had studied art and music in his younger years, a leader with a developed political conscious who was a member of the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists in the 1930s.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
he was a prisoner of war
Prisoner of war
A prisoner of war or enemy prisoner of war is a person, whether civilian or combatant, who is held in custody by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict...
in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
.
He was ordained to the diaconate August 3, 1947, and to the priesthood August 10 of that same year. From 1947 – 1989 he was a member of the clergy
Clergy
Clergy is the generic term used to describe the formal religious leadership within a given religion. A clergyman, churchman or cleric is a member of the clergy, especially one who is a priest, preacher, pastor, or other religious professional....
of the Moscow Patriarchate.
In 1989 he and the other members of the clergy left the Moscow Patriarchate and declared to be put under the omophor of the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church
Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church
The Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church is one of the three major Orthodox Churches in Ukraine. Close to ten percent of the Christian population claim to be members of the UAOC. The other Churches are the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Kiev Patriarchate and the Ukrainian Russophile Orthodox...
under Metropolitan
Metropolitan bishop
In Christian churches with episcopal polity, the rank of metropolitan bishop, or simply metropolitan, pertains to the diocesan bishop or archbishop of a metropolis; that is, the chief city of a historical Roman province, ecclesiastical province, or regional capital.Before the establishment of...
Mstyslav (Skrypnyk) who was at that time the head of the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church in USA and Canada
Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA
The Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA is a jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in the United States. It consists of three eparchies , ruled by two diocesan bishops, including about 85 active parishes and missions. The Church's current primate is Metropolitan Constantine...
.
By 1990, with the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
falling apart, the Rev. Yarema initiated and was a participant in the first All-Ukrainian Sobor of the UAOC
Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church
The Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church is one of the three major Orthodox Churches in Ukraine. Close to ten percent of the Christian population claim to be members of the UAOC. The other Churches are the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Kiev Patriarchate and the Ukrainian Russophile Orthodox...
, held in Kiev
Kiev
Kiev or Kyiv is the capital and the largest city of Ukraine, located in the north central part of the country on the Dnieper River. The population as of the 2001 census was 2,611,300. However, higher numbers have been cited in the press....
in 1990, which elected Metropolitan Mstyslav as the first patriarch
Patriarch
Originally a patriarch was a man who exercised autocratic authority as a pater familias over an extended family. The system of such rule of families by senior males is called patriarchy. This is a Greek word, a compound of πατριά , "lineage, descent", esp...
of Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
.
In 1993 he took his monastic vows and then was ordained bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
of Pereyaslovskiy and Sichevskiy.
On the II Council of this Church in 1993 he was voted Patriarch of Kyiv and all Rus’-Ukraine.
In late 1998 the aging Patriarch Dymytriy, his health weakening and the day-to-day management of the Church and he determined that the future of the Church would be strengthen if it would turn once again to the Ukrainian diaspora, which had maintained the UAOC
Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church
The Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church is one of the three major Orthodox Churches in Ukraine. Close to ten percent of the Christian population claim to be members of the UAOC. The other Churches are the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Kiev Patriarchate and the Ukrainian Russophile Orthodox...
during nearly 70 years of Communist rule in Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
.
The choice Patriarch Dymytriy made in his last will and testament to request that the UAOC
Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church
The Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church is one of the three major Orthodox Churches in Ukraine. Close to ten percent of the Christian population claim to be members of the UAOC. The other Churches are the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Kiev Patriarchate and the Ukrainian Russophile Orthodox...
hierarchy agree to allow Metropolitan Constantine
Metropolitan Constantine
Metropolitan Constantine is the current Metropolitan of Irinoupolis, and Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA , which is a jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in the United States. The primatial cathedral is in Parma, Ohio Metropolitan Constantine (secular name Theodore...
to guide it - which, if carried out, would effectively unite the two Churches - was a calculated move to save the UAOC from further incursions from the larger Ukrainian Orthodox Church - Kiev Patriarchate
Ukrainian Orthodox Church - Kiev Patriarchate
Ukrainian Orthodox Church – Kyiv Patriarchate is one of the three major Orthodox churches in Ukraine, alongside the Ukrainian Orthodox Church , and the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church...
, and the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate)
Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate)
The Ukrainian Orthodox Church is an autonomous Church of Eastern Orthodoxy in Ukraine, under the ecclesiastic jurisdiction of the Moscow Patriarchate...
.
Patriarch Dymytriy (Yarema) was successor to Patriarch Mstyslav (Skrypnyk) from 1993 to 2000 and was succeeded by Metropolitan Mefodiy (Kudryakov)
Metropolitan Mefodiy (Kudryakov)
Metropolitan Mefodiy in the city of Kopychentsi, Husyatyn region in the district of the Ternopol region.A graduate of the Moscow Theological Academy in Zagorsk....
.