KHARKIV. Ruling Bishop of Kharkiv Diocese passed away to the Lord

Ukrainian Orthodox Church

On September 15 in the evening, on the 91th year of life at the bishop’s residence at the Holy Protection Monastery Metropolitan Nicodemus of Kharkiv and Bogodukhiv reposed in the Lord.

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Metropolitan Nicodemus of Kharkiv and Bogodukhiv (Nikolai S. Rusnak) was born on April 4, 1921 in the village of Davydivtsi, Chernivtsi region in a peasants’ family.

He graduated from the high school in 1935.

In 1938 he became a novice at St. John the Theologian’s Monastery of the Chernivtsi diocese, where on January 6, 1945 he took his monastic vows.

April 29, 1945 he was ordained hierodeacon, and on February 23, 1946 – hieromonk.

From 1950 to 1955 he bore obedience of the prior of St. John the Theologian’s monastery.
Since 1955 he studied at the Moscow Theological Seminary and also served as Dean MBA and MS

In 1958 he was appointed deputy chief of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem, and was elevated to the rank of Archimandrite.

On August 10, 1961 he consecrated as bishop and sent to Kostroma department.

Since 1964 he was Bishop of Argentina and South. From 25 February 1968 – he served as Archbishop, Exarch of Central and South America. In 1970 he was appointed Archbishop of Kharkiv and Bogodukhiv, and in 1983 of Lviv and Ternopil.

On April 9, 1985 he was elevated to the rank of Metropolitan.

On December 27, 1988 h was appointed Metropolitan of Lviv and Drohobych, and hiero-archimandrite of the Holy Dormition Pochaiv Laura.

September 13, 1989 returned to Kharkov department.

From April to May 27, 1992, he served as Primate of the UOC. In 1992 he headed the Kharkiv Council of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which was condemned by splitting activities of the former Metropolitan Filaret.

From June 20, 1992 he was a permanent member of the Holy Synod of the UOC.

By decision of the Holy Synod of the UOC of 22 November 2006 he was dismissed from the office of chairman of the Synodal Commission on Canonization of Saints in connection with diocesan affairs.

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