Metropolitan Andrew (Metiuk)

Metropolitan Andrew (Metiuk) (1898-1985)

Andrew may be spelt André, Andrei, Andrey, Andriy.

Hrygorii may be spelt Gregory, Grigoriy, Gregorios, Grégoire.

Metiuk may be spelt Metjiuk.

Early life of Hryhorii Metiuk

On 3 January, 1899, Hryhorii Metiuk was born into the family of Andrei Metyuk and his wife Yulia (from the Abram family), in Terebin, Grubeszow county (now Hrubeshiv or Hrubieszów), in the Kholm (Chełm) Province in what is now the Lublin Province of Poland.

At that time, this territory was a part of the Russian Empire.

Hryhorii was raised an Orthodox Christian, in the bosom of the Russian Orthodox Church.

He received his primary and secondary education in his native village.

Higher education

Hryhorii Andriievich enrolled in the Vilnius Theological Seminary (in what is now Lithuania).

After his graduation in 1920, he enrolled in the Faculty of Theology of the University of Warsaw, from which he graduated in 1924.

In 1929 he graduated from the Theological Faculty of the University of Warsaw with the degree Master of Theology.

Marriage

Hryhorii Andriievich Metiuk was married to Ludmyla Stepanivna Hrushko in 1925. In this marriage, a daughter (Lydia/Lidiya) was received from the Lord.

Ordinations, 1924

On 21 September, 1924, Hryhorii Andriievich Metiuk was ordained to the Holy Diaconate.

On 27 September, 1924, Deacon Hryhorii Metiuk was ordained to the Holy Priesthood by Metropolitan Dionysius (Valedinsky), First Hierarch of the Church in Poland in the Metropolitan Cathedral of Saint Mary Magdalene in Warsaw.

Pastoral Service

Priest Hryhorii Metiuk was assigned to serve in various responsibilities in the Chełm (Kholm) region, where he cared for Ukrainian Orthodox Faithful.

He was the first priest of the Nosovo Parish, and he served at the same time as administrator of the Zherotyn parish. He also served as dean of the Bielskopodlya district.

After this, Priest Hryhorii Metiuk was assigned to serve as rector of the Dormition of the Mother of God Sobor in Hrubiesz (Hrubieszów) and dean of the Hrubiesziv district with the duties of a teacher of the Law of God in the Hrubiesziv Gymnasium. He was engaged in religious and national education of Ukrainian youth, as a teacher of the Law of God in national, secondary and higher schools.

In 1943, he also became professor and rector of the Chełm Theological Seminary.

However, because of anti-"Ukrainophile" pressures from the German occupiers, in August, 1941, Father Hryhorii was removed from his duties of rector and dean.

Priest Hryhorii Metiuk

Priest Hryhorii Metiuk and his family

Priest Hryhorii Metiuk and his daughter Lydia

In 1944, there was a meeting in Warsaw of the Bishops of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in exile.

Meeting of Ukrainian Orthodox Bishops in Warsaw, 1944

Bereavement, 1944

In January, 1944, there was an attack on the parish house and it was destroyed. The attack was an anti-Ukrainian act. This attack brought on the early repose of Matushka Ludmila, on 16 January, 1944.

After this, Father Hryhorii and his daughter Lydia fled to Switzerland in 1945.

Exile, 1945 ; emigration, 1948

Priest Hryhorii Metiuk and his daughter were able to settle in Switzerland in 1945.

Between 1945 and 1948, he was engaged in missionary and pastoral work amongst Ukrainian refugees there : in Geneva, Lausanne, Zurich, Basel, Lugani, Lucerne, Bern, Engelberg, Montanna and other areas.

In addition to this, he studied for 2 years at Bern, which deepened his theological and philosophical knowledge.

In 1946, there was a meeting of Ukrainian Orthodox Bishops in exile, which took place in Munich (in Bavaria, just north of Switzerland).

Meeting of Ukrainian Orthodox Bishops in Munich, Bavaria, 1946

In 1948, Father Hryhorii Metiuk was able to emigrate to Canada, where he entered the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada (UGOCC).

At that time, Metropolitan John (Theodorovych) was the First Hierarch of the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada (UGOCC).

Father Hryhorii settled first in Winnipeg, Manitoba. In Winnipeg, he served in Saint Andrew's College (of which he was a founder in its renewal) as a professor, as assistant dean of the Faculty of Theology, as chaplain, and as rector. Father Hryhorii was able to speak in the Ukrainian, Russian, Polish, German and English languages.

Father Hryhorii served also as secretary and vice-president of the Consistory Presidium (headquarters) in Winnipeg. By that time, Metropolitan Ilarion (Ohienko) was the first hierarch of the UGOCC.

In 1958, he was assigned to serve as the administrator of the Western Eparchy, and he was transferred to Edmonton, Alberta.

Monastic tonsure

Priest Hryhorii Metiuk was tonsured to be a monk, and he was given the name Andrew (Andrii), after the Holy Apostle Andrew.

Episcopal ordination, 1959

In 1959, Hieromonk Andrew (Metiuk) was ordained to the Holy Episcopate at Saint John's Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral in Edmonton, Alberta.

At the ordination of Bishop Andrew (Metiuk)

Episcopal service

Bishop Andrew (Metiuk) was assigned to serve as the Bishop of the Eparchy of Edmonton and Western Canada.

Bishop Andrew was the first to serve in the UGOCC as Bishop of Edmonton and the Western Eparchy.

In 1963, Bishop Andrew (Metiuk) was elevated to the dignity of archbishop.

Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, 1975

In 1975, Archbishop Andrew (Metiuk) was elected to become the metropolitan and primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada.

Metropolitan Andrew (Metiuk) served as the Archbishop of Winnipeg and Metropolitan of the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada (UGOCC) from 1975-1985.

He is described as having been the third Metropolitan of the UGOCC. Before him, there were Metropolitan Michael (Khoroshy) and Metropolitan Ilarion (Ohienko). There were other bishops before this, however : Metropolitan Polikarp (Sikorski), Metropolitan John (Theodorovych) and Metropolitan Germanos (Shehadeh).

Repose, 1985

On 2 February, 1985, Metropolitan Andrew (Metiuk) reposed in Winnipeg.

On 12 February, 1985, the Funeral Services for the Burial of a Hierarch were served at Holy Trinity Metropolitan Cathedral in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Following the funeral services, his body was interred at the Glen Eden Cemetery north of Winnipeg, Manitoba.

— Bishop of Edmonton and Western Canada 1959-1963. Preceded by : See created.

— Archbishop of Edmonton 1963-1975. Succeeded by : Bishop John (Stinka).

— Metropolitan of Winnipeg and Canada (UGOCC) 1975-1985. Preceded by : Metropolitan Michael (Khoroshy). Succeeded by : Metropolitan Wasyly (Fedak).

Reflections

Metropolitan Andrew (Metiuk) was a greatly intelligent and gifted servant of Christ, who, in the course of his life, seems to have taken every opportunity to use his gifts and talents to the glory of God.

His love for the Lord bore fruit in his dedication to teaching ; and he was not deterred from serving Christ by the many ways in which he suffered during the course of his life. Rather, in persevering in his loving service of the Lord in the midst of pain, he gave others a good example, hope, and an encouragement to do similarly.

Writings

• “Pravoslavna vera” (“The Orthodox Faith”, 1962, 1976).

• “Vid Ierusalymu pochynaiuchy” (“Beginning in Jerusalem”, 1980).

• “Ryms’ka uniia ne dlia ukraintsiv” (“The Union with Rome is Not for Ukrainians”, 1984).

• 'The Unity of the Christian Churches : On the Teaching of the Holy Orthodox Churches' in “Life and culture”, part 6, no. 90 (1961) ; part 7, no. 91.

• “Let us be Honest” (Edmonton, 1962).

• 'Our Preparations for Christ's Revelation' in "Life and Culture” (1962)

• ‘H Z’ in “Orthodox Life”, no. 99 (Winnipeg, 1962, 1976)

References

Wikipedia biography

Ukrainian Wikipedia biography

Russian Wikipedia biography

Additional information :

Hewlett, Edward, “The Formation of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada”.

Krawchenko, O, “Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow : History of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada”.

Kubiyovich, Vladimir, general editor "Encyclopedia of Ukraine", vol. 4, p. 1524.

Martynowych, Orest, “Ukrainians in Canada : The Formative Years, 1891-1924” (Edmonton, AB : CIUS Press, 1991).

……. “Ukrainians in Canada : The Interwar Years, Book 1” (Edmonton, AB : CIUS Press, 2016).

Minenko T, Fr. “Establishment of the Ukrainian Orthodox Metropolitanate in Canada” (Winnipeg, 2006).

Onuphriichuk, F F, “Metropolitan Andrei in the Service of the God of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and Our Peoples” (Winnіpeg, 1983).

Tarasar, Constance J, ed., “Orthodox America 1794-1976 : Development of The Orthodox Church in America” (Syosset, NY : The Orthodox Church in America Department of History and Archives, 1975). ASIN : B000ZLZAUE.

Yereniuk, Roman, ‘Church Jurisdictions and Jurisdictional Changes Among Ukrainians in Canada, 1891-1925’ in “The Ukrainian Religious Experience : Tradition and the Canadian Cultural Context”, ed. David J Goa (Edmonton : Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies, 1989).

......, R, “A brief Description of the History of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Canada on the occasion of its 90th Anniversary (1918–2008)” (Lviv, 2010).

Yuzik, Paul, “The Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada, 1918-1951” (Ottawa, ON : University of Ottawa Press, 1981).

‘Archbishop-Metropolitan Andrew Metiuk of Canadian Orthodox Church dies’ in “Ukrainian Weekly”, vol. 53, no. 6 (10 February, 1985), pp. 1 & 4.

'His Beatitude Metropolitan Andrei is the new First Hierarch of the Church in Canada' in “Native Church” (1975), part 104.

'His Grace Andrew : New Bishop of UAOC' in “Native Church” (1959), part 39.

'The Third Bishop of Canada' in “Life and Culture", parts 10-11, nos. 70-71 (1959).

Saint Andrew’s College, Winnipeg, Manitoba

Holy Trinity Ukrainian Metropolitan Cathedral, Winnipeg, Manitoba

“Ukrainian Orthodox Diaspora” Part 2 Post-war tests

Metropolitan Dionysiy (Valedinskiy)

Metropolitan Polikarp (Sikorski)

Metropolitan Ilarion (Ohienko)

Metropolitan Michael (Khoroshy)