Epiphanius I of Ukraine facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Epiphanius |
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| Metropolitan of Kyiv and All Ukraine | |
Epiphany I of Ukraine in 2019
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| Native name | Епіфаній |
| Church | Orthodox Church of Ukraine |
| Metropolis | Kyiv and All Ukraine |
| See | Kyiv |
| Elected | 15 December 2018 |
| Enthroned | 3 February 2019 |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 20 January 2008 |
| Consecration | 15 November 2009 by Filaret (Denysenko) |
| Rank | Metropolitan bishop (2013– ) |
| Personal details | |
| Birth name | Serhii Petrovych Dumenko Сергій Петрович Думенко |
| Born | February 3, 1979 Vovkove, Ivanivka Raion, Odesa Oblast, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union |
| Previous post | Secretary of the Patriarch of Kyiv and All Rus'-Ukraine Filaret (25 January 2008) Governor of the Vydubychi Monastery (20 March 2008) |
| Education | Doctor of Theology |
| Alma mater | Kyiv Orthodox Theological Academy |
| Signature |  |
| Coat of arms | .png) |
| Styles of Metropolitan Epiphanius I of Kyiv and All Ukraine |
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| Reference style | His Beatitude |
| Spoken style | Your Beatitude |
| Religious style | Metropolitan |
Metropolitan Epiphanius (born Serhii Petrovych Dumenko on 3 February 1979) is the main leader, or primate, of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU). His full title is Metropolitan of Kyiv and All Ukraine.
Before leading the OCU, Metropolitan Epiphanius was a Metropolitan bishop in the former Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Kyiv Patriarchate). He served as the Metropolitan of Pereiaslav and Bila Tserkva from 2013 to 2018.
He was also a professor at the Kyiv Orthodox Theological Academy. He was a member of the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Serhii Petrovych Dumenko was born in Vovkove, a village in southern Ukraine, on 3 February 1979. He spent his childhood and school years in the village of Stara Zhadova. He finished high school there in 1996.
In 1996, he began studying at the Kyiv Theological Seminary, finishing with top honors in 1999. He then continued his studies at the Kyiv Theological Academy. In 2003, he earned a doctor of theology degree.
From 2006 to 2007, he studied in Greece at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. In 2012, he earned another Doctor of Theology degree.
Church Ministry
From 2003 to 2005, Epiphanius worked as a secretary for the Rivne church administration. He also taught at the Rivne Seminary. During this time, he managed an online religious portal and was part of a religious newspaper's team. In 2005, he joined the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine.
In 2007, he became a teacher at the Kyiv Orthodox Theological Academy. He was also made head of the philology department.
On 21 December 2007, he became a monk at the Michael's Golden-Domed Monastery. He chose the monastic name Epiphanius. On 20 January 2008, he became a hieromonk (a monk who is also a priest). Soon after, he was appointed secretary to Patriarch Filaret.
In March 2008, he became an archimandrite, a high rank for a monk. He was also appointed governor of Vydubychi Monastery in Kyiv. In May 2008, he began managing the affairs of the Kyivan Patriarchate.
In October 2009, he was chosen as Bishop of Vyshhorod. He was ordained a bishop in November 2009.
In July 2010, he became the rector (head) of the Kyiv Orthodox Theological Academy. He was also made governor of the Pereiaslav-Khmelnytsky diocese. In November 2011, he became a professor.
In 2012, he was promoted to Archbishop. In 2013, he became the Metropolitan of Pereiaslav-Khmelnytskyi and Bila Tserkva.
In April 2019, he publicly supported the law on the Ukrainian language.
In August 2020, Metropolitan Epiphanius blessed the renovated Wall of Remembrance of Heroes in Kyiv. He also blessed a new church in the Kyiv region. He honored fallen Ukrainian soldiers on the Day of Remembrance of Defenders of Ukraine.
Leading the Ukrainian Orthodox Church
On 15 December 2018, a special meeting called the unification council took place. It was held in the Cathedral of St. Sophia. At this council, Epiphanius was elected the first leader of the new, self-governing Orthodox Church of Ukraine. This means the church would manage its own affairs.
The official title for the leader of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine is "His Beatitude (name), Metropolitan of Kyiv and all Ukraine".
Remembering Other Church Leaders
On 16 December 2018, during his first church service as Metropolitan, Epiphanius prayed for peace in Ukraine. He did not mention Patriarch Kirill of Moscow in the list of church leaders he usually remembers. Epiphanius later explained that he did not mention him because Ukraine was in a state of war. He said the Ukrainian people would not accept him remembering the Russian Patriarch.
However, on 7 January 2019, after the OCU became officially self-governing, Metropolitan Epiphanius did mention Patriarch Kirill during a church service. He later said that the Ecumenical Patriarch had told him to do so.
Enthronement Ceremony
Epiphanius was officially installed as Metropolitan on 3 February 2019. This day was also his 40th birthday. The ceremony took place in St. Sophia's Cathedral, Kyiv.
Filaret, the former head of the church, was not there due to health reasons. However, he sent his written congratulations to Epiphanius.
Disagreements with Filaret
There were some disagreements between Filaret and Epiphanius. These disagreements were mainly about how the new Orthodox Church of Ukraine should be governed. They also disagreed on how the church should manage its communities outside Ukraine.
Filaret believed that the primate (Epiphanius) should handle the church's external matters. He thought the patriarch (Filaret himself) should be in charge of internal church life in Ukraine, working with the primate. He felt that the primate should not make decisions without the patriarch's agreement.
During the Russo-Ukrainian War
When the Russian invasion began in February 2022, Epiphanius decided to stay in Ukraine. He remained there during the fighting.
As the leader of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, he asked Kirill of Moscow, his Russian counterpart, to help remove the bodies of Russian soldiers who had died. He questioned Kirill's loyalty to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Metropolitan Epiphanius strongly condemned Russia's actions. He asked the international community for help. He also suggested that there should be new trials, like the Nuremberg trials, to punish those who committed crimes against Ukraine. He and other bishops offered their churches as safe places for people to hide from bombings. The Metropolitan stated that he was a target for Russian forces.
Academic and Public Work
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Epiphanius is the head of the editorial board for important academic publications. These include Proceedings of the Kyiv Theological Academy.
He has written more than 50 articles and several books about Orthodox theology.
Epiphanius is a very active religious leader and public figure. He takes part in many scientific and educational events. He has greatly helped develop Ukrainian religious education and science. He has also contributed to strengthening the Ukrainian state. Both the state and the Church have recognized his work with awards.
Awards and Honors
Church Orders
He has received several church awards, including:
- The Order of the Holy Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian.
- The Order of the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Prince Volodymyr the Great of the Third Degree.
- The Order of the Holy Archangel Michael.
- The Order of the Holy Cross of the Montenegrin Orthodox Church.
State and Public Awards
He has also received awards from the government and other organizations:
- The Order of Merit of ІІ and III degrees.
- A letter of thanks from the Cabinet of ministers of Ukraine.
- Thanks from the Prime Minister of Ukraine.
- A letter from the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine (Ukrainian Parliament).
- Decorations from the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine and the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine.
- Awards from the command of the Army of Ukraine.
- Distinctions from the National Pedagogical Dragomanov University.
- Awards from the Ukrainian People's Embassy.
- The 2019 Athenagoras Human Rights Award.
Academic Honors
In March 2019, he was given the title of Honorary doctor by the National Pedagogical Dragomanov University.
Images for kids
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Epiphany I of Ukraine in 2019
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Coat of arms of Epiphanius (Dumenko)
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Epiphanius signature
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Emblem of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine
See also
In Spanish: Epifanio de Ucrania para niños
