Andrew Abramchuk
Metropolitan Andrew | |
|---|---|
| Born | Stepan Vasylyovych Abramchuk January 21, 1949 Tysmenytsia, Stanislav Oblast |
| Occupation | Metropolitan bishop |
| Years active | 1974–present |
| Known for | Metropolitan bishop of Halychyna within the Orthodox Church of Ukraine |
Metropolitan Andrew (; birth name: Stepan Vasylyovych Abramchuk; born 21 January 1949) serves as a metropolitan bishop of Halychyna within the Orthodox Church of Ukraine.
Abramchuk was born in Tysmenytsia, Stanislav Oblast, and completed his theological education at Odesa Theological Seminary in 1974, followed by studies at Moscow Theological Academy, graduating in 1982. On 21 January 1974, Metropolitan Sergij of Odesa ordained him as protopriest. From 1983 to 1988, he ministered to patriarchal parishes of the Russian Orthodox Church in Canada. Beginning in 1988, he fulfilled duties as a parish priest at the Ivano-Frankivsk cathedral. In 1990, he departed from the Russian Orthodox Church and joined the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church (UAOC), where he was consecrated bishop of Ivano-Frankivsk and Kolomyia by Ioann (Bodnarchuk), Basil (Bodnarchuk), and Vikentiy Chekalin.
That same year, the Russian Orthodox Church imposed sanctions on him, forbidding him from performing religious services. At the UAOC All-Ukrainian Local Council in 1990, he was granted the rank of archbishop and later elevated to Metropolitan by Patriarch Mstyslav of Kyiv in January 1992.
On 25 June 1992, Metropolitan Andrew affiliated with the newly established Ukrainian Orthodox Church – Kyivan Patriarchate but reverted to the UAOC by autumn 1995. In recognition of his service to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and marking 25 years in priesthood, Patriarch Demetrius of Kyiv honored him with a second Panagia in February 1996.
In 2000, both the UAOC Bishop Council and Patriarch Demetrius suspended his episcopal functions.
Problems with ordination
Metropolitan Andrew, along with Basil (Bodnarchuk), was among several Ukrainian bishops whose ordinations were contested by the Russian Orthodox Church for purported non-compliance with canonical requirements.[1] Historian Serhii Shumylo highlighted challenges in authenticating documentation related to ordinations conducted by Ioann Bodnarchuk and Basil Bodnarchuk.[2] This dispute raised questions regarding both his episcopal legitimacy and that of the Ukrainian Church.[1][2] Neither Andrew, Basil, nor Peter (Petrus) accepted re-ordination offered by Philaret (Denysenko).[2]
In contrast, an ukase issued by Metropolitan Mstyslav on 29 November 1990 and a memorandum from the Ukrainian SSR's Council on Religious Affairs validate Abramchuk’s appointment as diocesan bishop for Ivano-Frankivsk Eparchy (subsequently Halychyna Eparchy).[3] Moreover, a clergy recommendation dated 19 March 1990 supports his episcopal designation.[3]
External links
- Andrew (Abramchuk). www.pomisna.info (Ukrainian)