Holy Synod of the UOC elects a new hierarch of Vinnitsa and Bar

Vicar of the Kiev Metropolitanate, Bishop Varsonofy (Stoliar) of Borodianka

By the decision of the Holy Synod of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church dated December 17, 2018 (journal No. 72), Archbishop Varsonofy (Stoliar) of Borodianka was relieved of his post as vicar of the Kiev Metropolitanate and appointed His Grace Bishop of Vinnitsa and Bar.

Hierarch of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church Varsonofy (secular name Vasily Petrovich Stoliar) was born on August 1, 1972, in the town of Ladyzhin, Trostianets district, Vinnitsa region, Ukraine, to the family of workers.

In 1987 he entered Odessa School of Metrology and Quality, which he graduated from in 1991, having received a secondary technical education as “a technician-metrologist of radio engineering measurements”. In 1991-1993 served in the army.

In 1993-1997 he studied at Kiev Theological Seminary.

In November 1996, at the Divine Liturgy in the Refectory church of Ven. Anthony and Theodosius of the Caves at Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, His Beatitude Metropolitan Vladimir of Kiev and All Ukraine blessed him to perform the duty of the reader.

In 1997-2001 he studied at Kiev Theological Academy.

On November 28, 1998, he wrote a petition for joining the brethren of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra and was enlisted as a novice.

On December 24, 1998, in the Holy Cross Church of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, abbot of the monastery, Bishop Pavel of Vyshgorod, tonsured him as a rassaphore monk with the name Varsonofy in honor of Rev. Varsonofy (St. Barsanuphius) the Great.

On January 17, 1999, in the Refectory Church of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, he was ordained a hierodeacon by Bishop Pavel.

On April 1, 1999, in the church of St. Anthony of Pechersk in the Near Caves of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, Bishop Pavel tonsured him as a mandyas monk with the name Varsonofy in honor of St. Barsonophius the Great.

On April 7, 1999, in the Refectory church of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, His Beatitude Metropolitan Vladimir ordained him a hieromonk.

On November 21, 2000, Varsonofy was awarded the right to wear a pectoral cross. In the same year he was awarded a jubilee order of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church "Nativity of Christ - 2000", II degree.

On February 5, 2001, he was elected a member of the Ecclesiastical Council of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra and was appointed treasurer of the Lavra.

On April 7, 2001, in the Refectory church of the Lavra, His Beatitude Metropolitan Vladimir elevated him to the rank of hegumen.

On November 21, 2002, he was awarded a cross with ornaments.

On March 14, 2004, he was elevated to the rank of archimandrite.

By the decision of the Synod of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of August 25, 2012 (Journal No. 86), he was elected Bishop of Borodianka, Vicar of the Kiev Metropolitanate.

He was ordained bishop on August 27, 2012 in the temple of All Saints of Kiev, Panteleimon Monastery in Theophany. He was chirotonized on August 28 at the Divine Liturgy in the temple of the Ven. Anthony and Theodosius at the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra. Divine services were led by His Beatitude Metropolitan Vladimir of Kiev and All Ukraine.

On March 26, 2013, by the decree of His Beatitude Metropolitan Vladimir, he was appointed key-keeper of the cathedral of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church which was built in Kiev in honor of the Resurrection of Christ.

By the decision of the Synod of the UOC of April 25, 2013 (Journal No. 55), he was appointed Chairman of the Administrative and Economic Department of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

On August 17, 2018, at the Liturgy in the Assumption Cathedral of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onufriy of Kiev elevated the bishop to the rank of archbishop.

Recall, following the results of the extraordinary meeting, the Synod of the UOC decided to impose sanctions on the clergy who took part in the “Unification Council”, banning Alexander Drabinko and Simeon Shostatsky in the ministry. The UOC Chancellor, Metropolitan Anthony of Borispol and Brovary, said that the Synod had taken appropriate decisions regarding those priests and deacons who participated in the “council” on December 15.

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