Volodymyr Sabodan


Metropolitan Vladimir was the head of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church 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, he was the head of the only Ukrainian Church inside Ukraine to have canonical standing in Eastern Orthodoxy worldwide.

Early life

Viktor Sabodan was born November 23, 1935 in a peasant family in Letychiv Raion of Vinnytsia Oblast.
In the late 1950s and early 1960s Sabodan studied at Odessa and later Leningrad Theological Seminary.
In 1965 Sabodan 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 .

Episcopacy

In 1966 Sabodan 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.”

Sabodan was 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.
Sabodan 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, Sabodan performed the service of consecration of the altar and temple in Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.
In 2011 Sabodan was awarded the title Hero of Ukraine.

Death

Sabodan died on July 5, 2014 from internal bleeding at the age of 78. Metropolitan Onuphrius was elected his successor on August 13, 2014.

State awards