Metropolitan of Kiev

Metropolitan of Kyiv is an episcopal title that has been created with varying suffixes at multiple times in different Christian churches, though always maintaining the name of the metropolitan city — Kiev. The title takes its name from the city of Kyiv in the modern state of Ukraine. Following the Council of Florence and the Union of Brest, there are now parallel apostolic successions: in the Russian Orthodox Church, the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, the Ruthenian Uniate Church and its successors. This list contains the names of all the metropolitan bishops (hierarchs) who have claimed the title. It is arranged chronologically and grouped per the claimed jurisdiction.

History of Kievan Rus' to the Mongol Invasions

Christianization of Kievan Rus'

The history of the Orthodox Church in the region of Kievan Rus' is usually traced to the Baptism of Rus' at Kyiv. While the date of this event is commonly given as 988, the evidence is contested. In that year, Grand Prince of Kiev — Vladimir the Great — together his people, were baptised in the river Dniper by clergy of the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople. There is a legendary account that the first bishop might have been dispatched to Kyiv in 864 by the Patriarch Photios I.Lencyk, W.
Christianization of Ukraine
'. Encyclopedia of Ukraine If true, it would have occurred after Kyiv had been captured by the Varangians in 860. It is possible that a Prince of Kyiv — Askold — might have been baptized due to the existence of the church of Saint Nicholas at Askold's Grave. During a rule of Prince Igor of Kiev, in Kyiv existed the Saint Elijah Church, while during signing the 944 treaty with the Greeks some Ruthenians took an oath on the Bible.

Establishment of the metropolitan see

It is not known for certain known when the Metropolis of Kyiv was established. The earliest recorded metropolitan bishop is Michael of Kiev (988-992). He was appointed by the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople — Nicholas II of Constantinople. He was given the title of Metropolitan of Kyiv and all Rus'. The '' cathedra'' was located in the city of Kyiv (or possibly Tmutarakan). The spiritual authority of the metropolis extended to all dioceses in the lands of Kievan Rus'. On the eve of the Mongol invasion of Kievan Rus' there were sixteen dioceses: Kyiv (988), Chernihiv (991), Belgorod (991), Vladimir (992), Novgorod (992), Rostov (992), Polatsk (992), Turiv (1005), Przemyśl (1026), Pereiaslav (1036), Yurii (1036), Galician (1134), Smolensk (1137), Riazan (1198), Suzdal (1213).

Fragmentation of Kievan Rus'

By the late 12th century, Kievan Rus' was beginning to fragment into a number of principalities. One of the most influential of these was the Grand Duchy of Vladimir under the Rurik dynasty. Grand Duke Vladimir II Monomakh founded the eponymous city of Vladimir which is located east of Moscow. In 1113 he was popularly acclaimed as the supreme ruler of the Kievan Rus. Mstislav I of Kiev, who reigned from 20 May 1125 to 15 April 1132, was the last undisputed ruler of all Kievan Rus'. After his death, the throne of Kiev became an object of struggle between various territorial associations of Rurikid princes.

The younger son of Vladimir II, called Yuri Dolgorukiy (George), was the Grand Prince of Vladimir-Suzdal. Under his rule, the principality gained military strength. In the Suzdal-Ryazan war of 1146, it conquered the Ryazan Principality. Later in the 1150s, George twice occupied Kiev and seized the throne. He last ruled Kiev from August 1150 to winter 1151. His rule marked the effective end of the Rus' as a unified entity. From that time onwards, the lands of the northeastern Rus' played an important role in the politics of Kievan Rus'.

In March 1169, a coalition of native princes led by the Grand Prince of Vladimir-Suzdal — Andrey Bogolyubsky — sacked Kiev and forced the ruling prince — Mstislav II of Kiev — to flee to Volhynia. Andrei appointed his brother — Gleb of Kiev — as Prince of Kiev while Andrei himself continued to rule his realm from Vladimir on Klyazma. From that time onwards, north-eastern Rus', which was centered on the city of Vladimir, became one of the most influential Rus' lands. Following the Mongol invasions, three powerful states remained as the successors of Kievan Rus': the Principality of Vladimir-Suzdal in the north-east — which would evolve into the Principality of Muscovy; the Kingdom of Galicia–Volhynia in the south-west; and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania to the north.

Kievan Rus' under the Mongols

Following the Mongol invasion and the sack of Kyiv in 1240, communications between Kyiv and Constantinople deteriorated. Shortly after Kirill III of Kiev (1250–1281) was appointed as metropolitan, the founder of the Golden Horde — Batu Khan — demanded that he transfer the ''cathedra'' from Kiev to the city of Vladimir. The transfer did not occur until 1299 under Kirill's successor, Maximos. The hierarchs continued to be styled "Metropolitan of Kyiv and all Rus"; they were supposed to be responsible for all Orthodox Christians in Rus, including those in Galicia, which became a kingdom in 1253, and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania which had gained control of the former Principality of Polotsk." In 1324, his successor — Peter of Moscow — again transferred the cathedra, this time to Moscow.

The Princes of the Grand Duchy of Vladimir effectively controlled the metropolitan see with the permission of the Khan of the Golden Horde. The most important Rus prince (usually the Prince of Moscow, but sometimes a Tver or another principality) continued to be styled the "Grand Prince of Vladimir". The Grand Princes were originally crowned in Vladimir's Cathedral of the Assumption. After the Mongol destruction, Vladimir never fully recovered. By the 14th Century, Moscow had superseded Vladimir as the seat of the Grand Prince. The title had become an honorific symbol of majesty. The princes chose to be crowned in the Cathedral of the Assumption in the Moscow Kremlin. This cathedral was loosely copied by the Italian architect Aristotele Fioravanti from the original in Vladimir.

Establishment of new metropolitan areas

Metropolis of Lithuania

Having escaped the brunt of the Mongol invasions, the Grand Duchy of Lithuania expanded into neighbouring areas that had been weakened by internal strife and by the Mongol predations. While these expansions were usually at the expense of slavic principalities of the former Kievan Rus', sometimes they were voluntary. For example, the dukes of the Principality of Turov began to cooperate more and more with the Grand Duchy and by the early 14th century the Principality non-violently joined the Grand Duchy. In 1320, most of the principalities of western Rus' were either made into vassals or were directly annexed by Lithuania. In 1321, Gediminas captured Kiev, sending Stanislav, the last Rurikid to rule Kiev, into exile. Gediminas also re-established the permanent capital of the Grand Duchy in Vilnius, presumably moving it from Old Trakai in 1323. The state continued to expand its territory under the reign of Grand Duke Algirdas and his brother Kęstutis, who both ruled the state in harmony.

At the time, religious allegiance played an important role in politics. While adhering to the pagan faith, Grand Dukes Vytenis and Gediminas understood the political importance of controlling the Church. Furthermore, the Metropolitan of Kiev and all Rus' — Peter of Moscow — moved the seat of the metropolis to Moscow. The lack of a metropolitan bishop for the inhabitants of the Grand Principality impeded the development of the idea of a single Lithuanian state that was being advanced by the ruling family. At the same time, the religious leaders in Rus' realised that the lack of a separate metropolis would leave the Lithuanian state susceptible to the influence of the Latin Church. In attempting to preserve the continued cultural and religious unity of Rus', the Orthodox leaders realised that they might ultimately drive the people into the arms of Rome. By the mid-1350's, the senior clergy of the Rus' in Lithuania were agreed that a separate Lithuanian metropolis was the lesser of two evils. The question was raised in their letters to patriarchate in Constantinople between 1328 and 1347. Consequently, the Grand Dukes of Lithuania requested the Patriarch to establish a separate diocese that was independent from Moscow.

The first Metropolitan of Lithuania — Theophilus — reigned from 1317 to 1329. Emperor Andronikos II Palaiologos established the metropolis while Patriarch John XIII of Constantinople ordained Theophilus who was of Rus' origin. When Theophilus died in 1329, the Metropolitan of Kiev and all Rus' — Theognostus — succeeded in restoring unity in the Rus' lands by claiming that there were too few Christians in pagan Lithuania. The seat of the Metropolis of Lithuania was left vacant between 1329 and 1355. In the meantime, Theognostus had authority over all Rus' and Lithuania until his own death in 1353. For two years, the see was again vacant. It suited the metropolitans in Moscow to brand the Lithuanians as fire worshippers. Grand Duke Algirdas promoted his candidate Roman for the metropolis of Lithuania. Roman was a monk from Tver and a relative of Algirdas' wife Uliana. Algirdas agreed to cease his support for his previous candidate Teodoryt on the grounds that his ordination was uncanonical, on condition that Roman was also appointed as Metropolitan of All Rus'. Algirdas even promised to convert to Orthodoxy in exchange for the ordination of Roman. In Constantinople, Patriarch Callistus I was deposed and was succeeded by Patriarch Philotheus I of Constantinople (November 1353 – 1354). In 1355, a restored Callistus, in agreement with Philotheus, ordained Roman as Metropolitan of All Rus'.

In 1355, after diplomatic struggles, Patriarch Callistus I of Constantinople united the Metropolis of Halych with the Metropolis of Lithuania under the leadership of Roman. Callistus also confirmed that Alexius remained in possession of the "Metropolis of Kiev and all Rus'". All eparchies of the Halych metropolis were transferred to the jurisdiction of a united "Metropolis of Lithuania-Volhynia" (also known as "Lithuania–Halych").

There were now two metropolitans for all Rus' (see Metropolis of Lithuania-Volhynia below).

Metropolis of Halych

In 1241, the Kingdom of Galicia-Volhynia was captured by the Mongol army. In 1245, King Daniel of Galicia won a decisive battle over the Hungarian-Polish army of his opponent Rostislav Mikhailovich and united Halychia with Volhynia. After this victory, he built his residence in Kholm in the western part of Volhynia. After Daniel's visit to Batu Khan, he made payments of tribute to the Golden Horde.

In 1299, the Metropolitan of Kiev and all Rus' — Maximus — transferred the metropolitan seat from Kiev to the city of Vladimir-on-Klyazma. In reaction to this move, King Daniel's son and successor on the throne — Leo I — petitioned the Ecumenical Patriarch to erect a new metropolis in the territory of his kingdom. Leo died in 1301 but his son — Yuri I of Galicia — succeeded in securing the charter of establishment from Patriarch Athanasius I of Constantinople with the approval of Emperor Andronikos II Palaiologos.

The first Metropolitan of Halych was Niphont (reigned 1303–1305). Following his death, the see lay vacant for three years. During that time, there were civil struggles with neighbouring realms. A Catholic from the Polish Piast dynasty — Yuri II Boleslav — succeeded to the throne of Halych. In 1308, he nominated Peter of Moscow as Metropolitan of Kiev and all Rus'. In the absence of a hierarch in Halych, Peter was effectively the administrator of that metropolis as well as his own metropolis of Kiev. In 1325, Peter moved his metropolitan seat to the west from Vladimir to Moscow. The second metropolitan was Gabriel (reigned 1326–1329). From 1329–1337 the see was again vacant. During this period the metropolis was effectively administered by Theognostus of Kiev (as Metropolitan of Kiev and all Rus'). The last metropolitan was Teodore (reigned 1337–1347). Following his death in 1347, the Grand Prince of Moscow — Simeon — conspired with Theognostus of Kiev to convince Emperor John VI Kantakouzenos to disestablish the Halych metropolis. At that time, the Kingdom of Galicia–Volhynia was convulsed by the Galicia–Volhynia Wars which resulted in the kingdom being sundered between the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the Kingdom of Poland.

Metropolis of Lithuania-Volhynia

Theognostus of Kiev died in 1353. He was succeeded in the Metropolis of Kiev and all Rus' by Alexius (reigned 1354–1378). In 1355, after diplomatic struggles, a restored Patriarch Callistus I of Constantinople, in agreement with Philotheus, united the Metropolis of Halych with the Metropolis of Lithuania under the leadership of Metropolitan Roman. Callistus also confirmed that Alexius remained in possession of the "Metropolis of Kiev and all Rus'". All eparchies of the Halych metropolis were transferred to the jurisdiction of a united metropolis, which was also known as the "Metropolis of Lithuania-Volhynia".

There were now two metropolitans for all Rus'; the ensuing struggle between them continued until Roman's death in 1362. Initially, Roman won over some bishops. He failed, however, to secure the support of the Bishop of Tver. Both Metropolitans travelled to Constantinople to make their appeals in person. In 1356, their cases were heard by a Patriarchal Synod. The Holy Synod confirmed that Alexius was the Metropolitan of Kiev while Roman was also confirmed in his see at Novogorodek. In 1361, the two sees were formally divided. Shortly afterwards, in the winter of 1361/62, Roman died; at that point, the Lithuanian metropolitanate was effectively dissolved. From 1362 to 1371, the territory of the former metropolises of Halych and of Lithuania were officially lowered to the rank of bishoprics within the Kiev metropolis. These changes, however, did not end the political rivalry for religious influence in Rus'.

Metropolis of Kiev, Russia and Lithuania

The Grand Duke of Lithuania — Algirdas — attacked Muscovy on three occasions between 1368 and 1372 as part of the Lithuanian–Muscovite War. Hostilities between Moscow and Lithuania resumed; in August 1375 Muscovite troops captured Tver. Patriarch Philotheus I was aware of the threat of Catholization of the population of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania.Mytsyk, Yu.
Jonah I Hlezna (ЙОНА I ГЛЕЗНА)
'. Encyclopedia of History of Ukraine. 2005 He therefore agreed to grant the petition to create a separate metropolis in the territory of the Grand Duchy. Philotheus also listened to the petitions of the Eastern Orthodox princes to have Cyprian as their metropolitan. On 2 December 1375 at the Council of Constantinople, Philotheus consecrated Cyprian as "Metropolitan of Kiev, Russia and Lithuania", under the condition that "upon the death of Alexius, Cyprian should become the Metropolitan of Kiev and all Rus"."Repose of St Cyprian the Metropolitan of Moscow and All Russia", Orthodox Church in America
/ref>

Reunification of the Metropolis of Kiev and all Rus'

On 12 February 1376, Alexius died; by the terms of the agreement with the patriarch, Cyprian was entitled to rule the religious affairs of all Rus'. On 6 June 1376, Cyprian arrived at his residence in Kiev. He attempted, but failed, to get recognition of his rights in the whole metropolitan diocese from the Grand Duke of Moscow Dmitri Donskoi, Novgorod, and Pskov. However, in the same year, there was a palace mutiny in Constantinople in which power was usurped by Andronikos IV. The new emperor deposed Patriarch Philotheus and installed Macarius in his stead. Macarius assured Dmitriy of Moscow in writing that he denied Cyprian's claims to the Church of Great Rus. He also offered to send the Grand Duke's nominee — Mitya — to Constantinople for his consecration as metropolitan.John Meyendorff, ''Byzantium and The Rise of Russia'' (Crestwood, NY: St. Vladimir's Seminary, 1989). Mitya, however, died (1379) within sight of Constantinople. Mitya was accompanied by Pimen. The succeeding Patriarch — Nilus — may have been tricked by Pimen using forged letters into consecrating Pimen in Mitya's place in June 1380.

As a result, Cyprian's rights to the united metropolis was disputed by Pimen (1380–1382). Dmitry, upon hearing the news of Pimen's consecration, angrily swore not to accept Pimen upon his return. Thus Pimen's metropolitanate was contested from the start, and he accomplished little as a result. Cyprian's rights were also disputed by Dionysius (1384–1385). Dionysius died in detention in Kiev on 15 October 15, 1385. After this, Cyprian enjoyed undisputed leadership of the Church throughout the Rus' and Lithuanian lands. He died in 1406.

The Lithuanian masses remained pagan until suddenly, to the surprise of all, Lithuanians, Russians, and Teutonic Knights alike, they were brought to Roman Christianity through royal fiat. In 1387, Algirdas' successor, King Władysław II Jagiełło, converted Lithuania to Catholicism. This marked the beginning of a long period of hardship for the Orthodox Church in western Russia.

In 1414, Grand Duke Vytautas attempted to re-establish the Metropolis of Lithuania. He arranged for a synod of bishops to elect Gregory Tsamblak as the Metropolitan of Lithuania. The consecration took place without the consent of Patriarch Euthymius II of Constantinople and was not recognized in Moscow.

First Unification with Rome

An Ecumenical council of the Church — the Council of Florence — took place from 1431 to 1449. Although he resisted at first, the Grand Prince of Moscow — Vasily II of Moscow — eventually permitted the Metropolitan of Kyiv and all Rus — Isidore of Kiev — to attend the council. Isidore, who was of Greek origin, submitted to the articles of the Bull of Union with the Greeks which united the Orthodox Church in Russia with the Latin Church. The Grand Prince of Moscow — Vasily II — voided the union and imprisoned Isidore for some time. Following that incident, the Grand Prince removed Isidore from office and appointed his own man — Jonah.

Parallel successions

These decisions were not recognised by Patriarch Gregory III of Constantinople who continued to recognise Isidore as the canonical metropolitan. As a result, in 1448, Jonah unilaterally changed his title to Metropolitan of Moscow and all Rus' which was tantamount to a declaration of independence of the Church in eastern Rus' from the Patriarchate of Constantinople. All sixteen successive hierarchs of the Metropolis of Moscow and all Rus' were selected by the civil power and installed without the approval of Patriarchate of Constantinople. Successive patriarchs continued to recognize Isidore and his successors as hierarchs of the Metropolis of Kiev and all Rus'.Slocombe, G.
Poland
'. T. C. & E. C. Jack. 1916FRICK, D.A.
Meletij Smotryc'kyj and the Ruthenian Question in the Early Seventeenth Century
'. Harvard Ukrainian Research Institute. 1984 These actions coincided with Muscuvite claims to Kievan Rus' or "Old Rus' ". A phase of warfare from 1449 to 1485 resulted in the annexation of two Rus' states — Great Novgorod and the Principality of Tver. The next hierarch of the metropolis in these western parts of Rus' was Gregory the Bulgarian. He was originally consecrated by a Latin Patriarch of Constantinople and received a title of Metropolitan of Kyiv, Halych and all Rus'. Shortly after January 1459, Gregory left Rome and traveled to the Orthodox eparchies of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. A letter of recommendation from Pope Pius II named him as "Archbishop of Kiev and all Russia". On 18 February, Patriarch Dionysius of Constantinople recognised this title as applying only to Gregory and not to the Muscovite metropolitans. In April 1460, the King of Poland and grand Duke of Lithuania — Casimir IV Jagiellon — recognised Gregory's right to rule the metropolis. Gregory's successors in Lithuania also styled themselves "Metropolitan of Kiev and all Rus'". Again, this title was accepted by the patriarchs of Constantinople. Gregory moved the episcopal seat to Vilnius.

This led to the division of the metropolis into Kievan and Muscovite parts.

Second Unification with Rome

In 1588–1589, Patriarch Jeremias II of Constantinople when traveling across Eastern Europe, visited both Moscow and Vilnius. In Moscow Jeremias confirmed autocephaly of the Russian Orthodox Church and for the first time since 1448 consecrated Job of Moscow as the Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia. Later Jeremias stopped in Vilnius and consecrated Michael Rohoza as Metropolitan of Kyiv, Halych and all Ruthenia, thus again confirming division of the former Russian Orthodox Church. Soon thereafter, in 1596 the Metropolitan of Kyiv and other top clergymen of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth signed the Union of Brest turning the Russian (Ruthenian) Orthodox Church under jurisdiction of the Latin Church and converting to the Ruthenian Uniate Church.

As the previous Florentine union, the Union of Brest was not accepted by all orthodox clergymen causing some eparchies (dioceses) to continue their operations as Eastern Orthodox. In 1620 the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophanes consecrated Job as the new Metropolitan of Kyiv, Halych and all Ruthenia and Exarch of Ukraine. This appointment revitalized Eastern Orthodox churches and deepened the schism. On the other hand, the episcopal see was returned to Kyiv for the first time since 1299. In 1646 the last remnants of the Russian Orthodox Church in Carpathian region joined the Union of Uzhhorod and converted into the Ruthenian Greek Catholic Church. At the same time, the eastern territories of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth which today part of Belarus and Ukraine entered a great turmoil and eventually were occupied by the Tsardom of Muscovy. Soon after occupation of Ukraine (Cossack Hetmanate), in 1685 the Ruthenian Orthodox Church was transferred from under jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople to under jurisdiction of the Patriarch of Moscow. The newly appointed metropolitan Gedeon was titled as Metropolitan of Kyiv, Galich and all Little Rus. This transfer successfully terminated any remnants of the original Russian Orthodox Church centered in Kyiv.

List of metropolitans of the Metropolis of Kiev and all Rus'

The church (Ancient Greek: Ρωσική Ορθόδοξη Εκκλησία, Rhosike Orthodoxe Ekklesia) was canonically established and governed by the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople in Kievan Rus'. The invasion of the Mongols of the Golden Horde led to the partition of Rus' between the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, the Kingdom of Hungary, and the Golden Horde with its vassal, the Grand Duchy of Moscow. At first, it led to a succession of Muscovite dioceses into its own Metropolis and although it was not recognized in the beginning eventually it turned into Patriarchate. Later the dioceses that were under the Grand Duchy of Lithuania were reorganized within the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth and as part of the Polonization process eventually joined the Union of Brest coming under communion with the Pope of Rome. The Eparchy of Mukačevo that was under the Kingdom of Hungary became one of the longest surviving dioceses of Eastern Orthodoxy in the west until it also chose to join the Union of Uzhhorod.

Metropolitans of Kiev and all Rus

* ''"Michael I and Leontius"'', 988(?)–1004(?) Metropolitans of Kyiv and all Rus (988–1305) (Митрополиты Киевские и всея Руси (988—1305 гг.))
Russia in color.
* Theophylact, 988–1018
* John, 1008(?)–1017(?)
* Teopempt 1037(?)–1043(?)
* ''"Cyril"'' (information about him appeared only no earlier than the 16th century)
*Hilarion 1051–(?)
* Ephraim, 1055(?)–(?)
* George, 1072(?)–(?)
* John II Prodrom, 1077(?)–1089
* John III, 1090–1091
* Nicholas, 1097–1101(?)
* Nikephoros, 1104–1121
* Nikita, 1122–1126
* Michael, 1130(?)–1145(?)
* Clement, 1147–1159
* Constantine, 1156–1159
* Theodore, 1161–1163
* John IV, 1164–1166
* Costantine II, 1167–1177(?)
* Michael II,
* ''"John V (?)–(?)"''
* Nikephoros II, 1182(?)–1197(?)
* Matthew, 1210(?)–1220
* Cyril, 1224–1233
* Joseph I, 1237–(?)
* ''" Peter (Akerovich)"'', 1241–1246 (Archbishop of Ruthenia), never confirmed by the Patriarch
* Cyril II, 1250–1281
*Maximus, 1283–1299

Consecrated as Metropolitan of Kyiv and Vladimir in 1283, Metropolitan Maximus moved to Vladimir only in 1299.

Division of the Metropolis of Kiev and all Rus'

In the 14th century, Emperor Andronikos II Palaiologos sanctioned the creation of two additional metropolitan sees: the Metropolis of Halych (1303) and the Metropolis of Lithuania (1317).

In 1325, the metropolitan seat was moved from the city of Vladimir to Moscow.

Following the signing of the Council of Florence, Isidore of Kiev returned to Moscow in 1441 as a Ruthenian cardinal. He was arrested by the Grand Duke of Moscow and accused of apostasy. The Grand Duke deposed Isidore and in 1448 installed own candidate as Metropolitan of Kyiv — Jonah. This was carried out without the approval of Patriarch Gregory III of Constantinople. When Isidore died in 1458, the Orthodox dioceses within the territory of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, including Kyiv, were reorganized and a metropolitan episcopal see was moved to Vilnius, the capital of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. A parallel succession to the title ensued between Moscow and Vilnius.

Metropolitans of Kiev, Galicia and all Ruthenia

Patriarch Isidore II of Constantinople reorganized the church and its primates were given a new title: Metropolitan of Kyiv, Galicia, and all Ruthenia thus commemorating the office of Metropolitan of Galicia. The episcopal see was located in Vilnius.

* Gregory II, 1458–1473 – Catholic metropolitan appointed by Pope Pius II
* Misail Pstruch, 1476–1480 – Catholic metropolitan accepted by Casimir IV Jagiellon, king of Poland and grand duke of Lithuania, after agreeing to adopt the 1439 Union of Florence; appointed by Pope Sixtus IV
**, 1476–1482 – consecrated as Orthodox metropolitan of Kyiv by Patriarch Raphael I of Constantinople but rejected by Casimir IV
* Simeon of Kiev, 1481–1488 – first accepted Orthodox metropolitan since 1458
* Jonah Hlezna, 1489–1494
* , 1495–1497
* , 1499–1501
* , 1503–1507
* , 1509–1522
* , 1523–1533
* , 1534–1555
* , 1556–1567
* , 1568–1577
* , 1577–1579
* , 1579–1589
* Michael III, 1589–1599

In 1595 the Vilnius/Kyiv Metropolis signs the Union of Brest with the Catholic Church, so establishing the Ruthenian Uniate Church.

Metropolitan of Kiev, Galicia and all Ruthenia (Exarchate of Ukraine)

More than 25 years after the implementation of the Union of Brest, many clergy in the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth still refused to subscribe and remained loyal to Constantinople. In August 1620, the patriarch of Jerusalem — Theophanes III — ordained a rival metropolitan for these dissenters.

List of metropolitans of the " Exarchate of Ukraine":
* Job (1620–1631)
* Isaiah (1631–1633)
* Peter III (1633–1646) who was the first metropolitan to be recognized by the Crown of Poland
* Sylvester (1647–1657)
* Dionisius II (1657–1663) who transferred the episcopal seat from Kyiv to Chyhyryn due to Muscovite military incursions
* Joseph V, 1663–1675
** Anton Vinnicky, (anti-Metropolitan) 1663–1679
* ''vacant'' 1679–1685

Appointed by Romanov civil authorities (residence in Kyiv):
* ''Locum Tenens'' Lazar Baranovych, 1659–1661
* ''Locum Tenens'' Methodius Filimonovich, 1661–1668
* ''Locum Tenens'' Lazar Baranovych, 1670–1685

According to the Russian Orthodox Church, the Greek Orthodox metropolis was transferred from the Ecumenical Patriarchate to the Moscow Patriarchate in 1686. This interpretation is disputed by the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (see 2018 Moscow–Constantinople schism).

Metropolitans and Bishops of Kiev in the Patriarchate of Moscow

Metropolitans of Kyiv, Galicia and of all Little Rus (1685–1770)

* Gedeon, 1685–1690 (Former bishop of Lutsk, Gedeon Chetvertinsky was elected by the sobor initiated by the Hetman Ivan Samoilovych and later went for consecration to Moscow instead of Constantinople)
* Metropolitan Varlaam, 1690–1707
* Ioasaph, 1708–1718
:In 1718 Peter the Great abolished metropolitan.
* Archbishop Varlaam, 1722–1730, archbishop
* Raphael, 1731–1747, metropolitan since 1743
:In 1743 metropolitan was reinstated.
* Timothy, 1748–1757
* Arsenius, 1757–1770
:In 1767 Catherine the Great stripped the Metropolitan Arsenius of title "of all Little Rus"

Metropolitans of Kyiv and Galicia (1770–1921)

In 1770 the Kyiv metropolitan was stripped of suffragan bishops and turned into a regular archeparchy carrying honoring title of Metropolitan.
* Gabriel, 1770–1783
* Samuel, 1783–1796
* Hierotheus, 1796–1799
* Gabriel II, 1799–1803
* Serapion, 1803–1822
* Eugene, 1822–1837
* Philaret, 1837–1857
* Isidore, 1858–1860
* Arsenius II, 1860–1876
* Philotheus, 1876–1882
* Platon, 1882–1891
* Joanicius, 1891–1900
* Theognostus, 1900–1903
* Flavian, 1903–1915
* Vladimir, 1915–1918
** Nicodemus, 1918 (as bishop of Chyhyryn)
* Anthony, 1918–1919 After the defeat of Gen. Pyotr Wrangel′s White Army in South Russia in November 1920, Anthony emigrated. In 1921 he settled down in Sremski Karlovci, Serbia. Along with several other Russian bishops in exile, he established an independent Russian church administration that sought to embrace all Russian Orthodox diaspora, known as the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia (ROCOR).
** Nazarius Blinov, 1919–1921

Metropolitans and Archbishops of Kyiv and Galicia (1921–1990)

Bishops in communion with the Patriarchate of Moscow (1921-1990)

Partial autonomy was reinstated in a form of exarchate which in the Russian Orthodox Church is a special fixed territory that has autonomy within the church (e.g. Belarusian Exarchate).
* Michael, 1921–1925, bishop in 1921–27 exarch of Ukraine 1921–1929
* Georges Deliev, 1923–1928, bishop ''acting''
* Macarius Karamzin, 1924, bishop ''acting''
* Sergius Kuminsky, 1925–1930, bishop ''acting''
* Demetrius Verbitsky, 1930–1932, archbishop
* Sergius Grishin, 1932–1934, archbishop
* Constantine, 1934–1937, exarch of Ukraine 1929–1937
* Alexander, 1937–1938
* Nicholas, 1941–1944, exarch of Ukraine 1941
** During World War II all territory of Ukraine was occupied by the Nazi Germany therefore Metropolitan Nicholas moved to Moscow. The rest of bishops loyal to Moscow Patriarchate created Ukrainian Autonomous Orthodox Church which was recognized by Metropolitan Nicholas. With the end of German occupation Ukrainian Autonomous Orthodox Church was dissolved and incorporated back to the Russian Orthodox Church (Ukrainian Exarchate).
** Oleksii Hromadskyi, 1941–1943 ( Ukrainian Autonomous Orthodox Church)
** Panteleimon Rudyk, 1943–1944 ( Ukrainian Autonomous Orthodox Church)
* John, 1944–1964, exarch of Ukraine
* Ioasaph II, 1964–1966, exarch of Ukraine
* Philaret II, 1966–1990, exarch of Ukraine
In 1990 the Ukrainian Exarchate of the Russian Orthodox Church, is given "self-ruled" status forming the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate)

Bishops not in communion with the Patriarchate of Moscow (1923–1941)

In 1923, a split occurred in the Patriarchate of Moscow. A majority (initially) of bishops associated themselves with a wing of the Church that was supported by the OGPU (the Soviet secret police). A minority, called "The Living Church", was spread across the territory of the USSR. Many episcopal sees in the 1920s and 1930s had 2 parallel bishops: one from the Living Church, another from the Moscow Patriarchate. The Living church had its headquarter in Kharkiv.

* Tikhon (Vasilevsky), 1923
* Nikolay (Fedotov), 1923–1924
* Aleksandr (Shcherbakov), 1924
* Innokentiy (Pustynsky), 1924–1929
* Iuvenaliy (Moshkovsky), 1928–1929
* Pimen (Pegov), 1929–1935
* Aleksandr (Chekanovsky), 1935–1937
* Vladimir (Zlobin), 1938–1941

=Metropolitan of Kyiv and All Ukraine (self-consecrated)

=
* Vasyl Lypkivsky, 1921–1927
* Mykola Boretsky, 1927–1930
* Ivan Pavlovsky, 1930–1936
Due to Soviet pressure, the is liquidated in 1936, some of its members emigrated to the United States.

=All-Ukrainian Orthodox Autocephalous Synodical Church

=
Created in 1923, the church was part of all-Soviet Renovation movement (Obnovlenichestvo). It was liquidated in 1935, but after the remaining communities were headed by acting primate.

* Pimen (Pegov), 1923-1935
* Oleksandr (Chekanovskyi), 1935-1937

=Fraternal Parish Association of the Ukrainian Orthodox Autocephalous churches

=
In 1925 there was created another organization which opposed both the Living Church and Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church. After 1937 it disappeared.

* Feofil Buldovsky, 1925–1937

=Polish Orthodox Church period (World War II)

=
In 1942, UAOC was re-established with help of the Polish Orthodox Church during occupation of Ukraine by the Nazi Germany. Polikarp Sikorsky was consecrated by Dionizy (Waledyński).
* Polikarp Sikorsky, (Administrator of the Church under the title of Metropolitan of Lutsk and Kovel), 1942–1944
This relative freedom lasted till the return of the Red Army in 1944, after that the was again liquidated and remained structured only in the diaspora. In 1944 the Orthodox Metropolitan of Warsaw, Dionizy Waledynski, was appointed "Patriarch of All Ukraine", but the Soviet Union did not allow any operation in Ukraine.

Metropolitans of Kyiv and All Ukraine of the Moscow Patriarchate (1990–present)

In 1990, the Patriarchate of Moscow erected the "Ukrainian Exarchate" of the Russian Orthodox Church. It was given a limited form of self rule and was styled the "Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate)".

Bishops in communion with the Ukrainian Exarchate (1990–present)

=Metropolitans of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Patriarchate of Moscow)

=
In the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Patriarchate of Moscow), there have been three metropolitans to date:
* Filaret II Denysenko (1990–1992) Following differences with the Patriarchate, he left and joined the newly formed Ukrainian Orthodox Church – Kyiv Patriarchate. In 1997, he was excommunicated by the Moscow Patriarchate.
* Volodymyr II Sabodan (1992–2014)
* Onufriy Berezovsky, 2014–incumbent

Bishops not in communion with the Ukrainian Exarchate (1990–present)

=Patriarchs of Kyiv and all Rus' (Ukrainian Orthodox Church – Kyiv Patriarchate)

=
Patriarch Mstyslav (Stepan Ivanovych Skrypnyk) was the Patriarch of Kyiv and all Rus' and the primate of the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church (UAOC) and the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Kyiv Patriarchate) (UOC–KP) from 1991 to 1993. After Mstyslav's death in 1993, the temporary union ended; the Ukrainian Orthodox Church – Kyiv Patriarchate and the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church separated. After being dismissed in 1992 by the Archhierarch Synod of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, the Ukrainian Metropolitan Filaret joined the UOC–KP under Patriarch Mstyslav. The primates of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church–Kyiv Patriarchate continue to style themselves as patriarch:
* Mstyslav (1991–1993)
* Volodymyr (1993–1995)
* Filaret II Denysenko (1995–2018; 2019–present) (see Conflict between Filaret and Epiphanius)

=Metropolitans of Kyiv and All Ukraine (Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church)

=
In 1989 the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church was legally registered in the Ukrainian SSR. This was made possible by the President Gorbachev's policies of Perestroyka. Previously, only the Russian Orthodox Church in Moscow was allowed to function in Ukraine. It was not in communion with the Patriarchate of Moscow. It was disestablished in 2018. It had four metropolitans during that time:
* Mstyslav (1991-1993)
* Dymytriy (1993-2000)
* Mefodiy Kudriakov (2000–2015)
* Makariy Maletych (2015–2018)

On 15 December 2018, the UAOC along with the UOC–KP merged into the unified Orthodox Church of Ukraine.

Metropolitan of Kyiv and all Ukraine (in the autocephalic Orthodox Church of Ukraine)

The Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU) was established by a unification council on 15 December 2018. The council voted to unite the existing Ukrainian Orthodox churches ( UOC-KP, UAOC and parts of the UOC-MP) through their representatives, on the basis of complete canonical independence. The primate of the Church is the "Metropolitan of Kyiv and all Ukraine". The unification council elected Epiphanius I as its first primate. The Church was officially granted autocephaly on 5 January 2019 by decree of the Ecumenical Patriarch, Bartholomew I.

As of December 2019, the OCU is recognized by the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, the Patriarchate of Alexandria, the Church of Greece, and the Church of Cyprus.
In June 2019, however, Filaret and few clergyman split from the UOC, in a dispute over the leadership of the Church.

This is a list of Metropolitans of Kyiv and all Ukraine:
* Epiphanius I, 2018–incumbent

See also

*Bishop of Kyiv (disambiguation)
*Roman Catholic Diocese of Kyiv-Zhytomyr

Notes

Citations

References

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External links

List of Orthodox Metropolitans of Ukraine Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) website

*Madey, J.

'. Encyclopedia of Ukraine

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History of the Russian Orthodox Church
Christianity in Kyiv
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