Archbishop Boris (Yakovkevych)

Archbishop Boris (Yakovkevych) (____-1984)

Boris may be spelt Borys, Boriss.

Yakovkevych may be spelt Iakovkevich, Jakovkevich, Yakowkewich.

Early life of Boris Yakovkevych

Boris Yakovkevych was born in Ukraine, but there is no information available with regard to where and when.

It is clear, however, that he was raised within the Orthodox Christian Faith, and that he received sufficient primary and secondary education, as well as a theological education which qualified him for ordination.

Diaconal and presbyteral ordinations

At some time, Boris Yakovkevych was ordained to the Holy Diaconate and then to the Holy Priesthood. It is likely that the ordinations were within the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church (UAOC) in Ukraine.

Pastoral service

Priest Boris Yakovkevych served in various pastoral responsibilities in Ukraine.

Sometime before 1939, Priest Boris Yakovkevych was elevated to the dignity of archpriest.

Removal from Ukraine and exile

During the time of the Nazi German Army occupation of Ukraine in World War II, large numbers of Ukrainians were taken to Germany in order to do forced labour in various places. Later, many of the bishops and clergy either were taken or they voluntarily fled to the west, primarily to Poland, from the advancing USSR Red Army.

According to the orders of the German authorities, the episcopate and the clergy (with their families) of the UAOC Church kept together during the war in exile. Because of the changing circumstances, they were transported from place to place.

On 29 July, 1944, the episcopate of the UAOC was taken from Warsaw, Poland, and transported to the resort of Krynica-Zdrój in Nowy Sącz County in southern Poland. From there, the bishops and their entourage were soon sent to Slovakia (first to Trenčín, then to Bratislava). On 5 October, they were transported (by railway, about 600 persons) to Germany. They arrived in Kissingen, but they were quickly diverted to Graz in Austria, and then to Marburg in Germany. There, they remained enclosed in railway carriages from 17 to 29 October, and they experienced almost daily bombing raids by the Allies. During this time, there were many victims who were killed by the bomb explosions, including the wife and daughter of Archpriest Boris Yakovkevych. The German authorities divided the survivors into groups, and the bishops of the UAOC Church and their entourage were transported from Marburg to Breslau, Germany.

As with many other clergy, during the remaining time of the war, Father Boris was involved in providing pastoral care to the multitude of other exiles, which included the organising of communities.

After the end of the war, Archpriest Boris Yakovkevych was able to emigrate to Canada (along with many other clergy and lay-persons), and he was assigned to serve in various parishes within the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada.

For part of his service, he was at Saint Andrew's College in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Episcopal ordination, 1963

On 19 May, 1963, at Holy Trinity Cathedral in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Metropolitan Ilarion (Ohienko) led the Primatial Divine Liturgy that included the ordination to the Holy Episcopate of Archimandrite Boris (Yakovkevych). Metropolitan Ilarion was assisted by Archbishop Michael (Khoroshy) of Toronto, Ontario, and by Bishop Andrew (Metiuk) of Edmonton, Alberta.

Episcopal service

He first served as the Bishop of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, and Vicar-Bishop of the Central Eparchy.

From 1971-1973 Archbishop Boris (Yakovkevych) supervised the work of George Kalistchuk who at that time served as the assistant choir conductor of the Theology Student Choir at Saint Andrew's College.

In 1974, Bishop Boris (Yakovkevych) ordained Hierodeacon John (Stinka) to the Holy Priesthood at Holy Transfiguration Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Yorkton, Saskatchewan.

On 2-5 July, 1975, the 15th Sobor of the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada in Winnipeg elected Archbishop Andrew (Metiuk) to be the next metropolitan, and Bishop Boris (Yakovkevych) to be the Archbishop of Edmonton (Alberta) and the Western Eparchy.

From 1975 to 1984, Vladyka Boris was the rector of Saint John's Cathedral in Edmonton, Alberta.

Saint John's Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral, Edmonton

On 16 July, 1978, Archimandrite Wasyly (Fedak) was ordained to the Holy Episcopate at the Holy Trinity Metropolitan Cathedral in Winnipeg, Manitoba, by Metropolitan Andrew (Metiuk), Archbishop Boris (Yakovkevych), and Bishop Nicholas (Debryn). He was assigned to serve as the Bishop of Saskatoon, and Vicar-Bishop of the Central Eparchy.

On 27 November, 1983, Archimandrite John (Stinka) was ordained to the Holy Episcopate by Metropolitan Andrew (Metiuk), Archbishop Boris (Yakovkevych), and Archbishop Wasyly (Fedak) at the Holy Trinity Metropolitan Cathedral in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Repose, 1984

Archbishop Boris (Yakovkevych) reposed in Christ in Winnipeg, Manitoba, on 24 March, 1984.

The Service for the Burial of a Hierarch was offered at Saint John’s Cathedral in Edmonton.

After the funeral services, the body of Vladyka Boris was interred in an Edmonton Cemetery.

— Bishop of Saskatoon 1963-1975. Preceded by : ___. Succeeded by : Bishop Wasyly (Fedak).

— Vicar-Bishop of the Central Eparchy.

— Archbishop of Edmonton and the Western Eparchy 1975-1984. Preceded by : Archbishop Andrew (Metiuk). Succeeded by : Archbishop John (Stinka).

Reflections

In 2021, apart from the information provided in this article, there is no other information available on the internet (in Ukrainian or English) about the origin and early life, education, ordinations, immigration or various pastoral activities of Vladyka Boris.