Archbishop Jonathan (Kopolovich)

Archbishop Jonathan (Kopolovich) (1912-1990)

Ivan may be spelt Ioan, Ioann, John.

Jonathan may be spelt Ionafan, Ionathan.

Kopolovich may be spelt Kopolovitch.

Early life of Ivan Mikhailovich Kopolovich

On 8 June, 1912, Ivan Mikhailovich Kopolovich was born to a deeply pious Ruthenian) (Rusyn) peasant family in the village of Oleshnik in the Zakarpats’ka Region. At that time, this region was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. This province is now a part of Ukraine. Because of its history, the Orthodox Christians of this region had been absorbed into the Eastern Catholic Church.

His father, Mikhail Ivanovich, was one of the active participants in the movement for the restoration of the Orthodox Christian Faith in Trans-Carpathia. He was the founder of the Orthodox Christian community in his native village, for which he was arrested by the authorities of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. He was an object of the Maramorosh Sigot judicial process of 1913-1914, a lawsuit brought in 1913 against Orthodox Rusyns from the village of Iza. The trial got its name from the city of Sigot (today known as Sighetu-Marmației in Romania), which at that time was in the Austro-Hungarian county of Máramaros, now known as Maramureș. Nevertheless, Ivan Mikhilovich was raised as an Orthodox Christian within the Romanian Orthodox Church.

In 1923, he graduated from primary school.

After he completed elementary school, he entered the gymnasium in Uzhgorod, Trans-Carpathia, from which he graduated in 1927. While he was studying at the gymnasium, he felt that he was being called to be a priest.

Higher education

In 1927, Ivan Mikhailovich entered the Orthodox Christian theological seminary at Sremksi-Karlovtsi in Serbia, in the Kingdom of Yugoslavia.

Marriage, 1933

At some time before November, 1933, Ivan Mikhailovich Kopolovich was married.

Diaconal Ordination, 1933

On 21 November, 1933, Ivan M Kopolovich was ordained to the Holy Diaconate by Bishop Damaskin (Grdanichka) at Saint Michael's Church in the village of Shelestove (now in the Mukachevo district) in Trans-Carpathia, and he became a cleric of the Serbian Orthodox Church.

Diaconal service

Deacon Ivan Kopolovich was assigned to help in the offices of the Diocese of Mukachevo (Serbian Patriarchate).

On 7 January, 1935, he was elevated to the dignity of protodeacon.

From 1 October, 1935 to 29 February, 1936, he served as a soldier as part of the required military service in the Czechoslovak army.

Presbyteral ordination, 1936

On 19 April, 1936, in Mukachevo, Bishop Damaskin (Grdanichka) of Mukachevo and Pryashevsky ordained Protodeacon Ivan M Kopolovich to the Holy Priesthood, also in Saint Michael's Church in Shelestove.

Pastoral service

At his ordination, Bishop Damaskin (Grdanichka) awarded Priest Ivan Kopolovich with the nabedrennik and the red belt.

He was assigned to continue his administrative duties in the diocesan offices.

On 27 April, 1939, he was assigned to serve as the secretary of the diocesan office.

In 1939, Bishop Vladimir (Raich) awarded Priest Ivan Kopolovich with the kamilavka of an archpriest.

In 1941, after the occupation of Trans-Carpathia by Hungary, Father Ivan was forced to leave his responsibilities as secretary, and to leave Mukachevo.

In 1941, Priest Ivan was then assigned to serve as a catechism teacher in the Khust Gymnasium in Trans-Carpathia for several years.

In October, 1944, Father Ivan was returned to administrative duties in the diocesan offices, where he served as the secretary of the diocese.

In 1944, the Diocesan Administrator, Igumen Feofan (Sabov) awarded him with the gold pectoral cross of an archpriest.

In 1945, Priest Ivan Kopolovich was transferred, and he was assigned again to serve as the Secretary of the Mukachevo Diocesan Administration (now in the Moscow Patriarchate).

Hungary, 1949-1954

On 11 November, 1949, Patriarch Alexei I (Simansky) and the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church sent Priest Ivan Kopolovich to serve in Hungary.

At that time, Priest Ivan Kopolovich was elevated to the dignity of archpriest.

There, he was assigned to serve as the Administrator, Dean, and Plenipotentiary Representative of the Moscow Patriarchate in the Hungarian People's Republic. It was determined that the Cathedral of the Deanery would be the Cathedral of the Dormition of the Theotokos in Budapest.

Immediately, Archpriest Ivan Kopolovich set to work on organising the translation of various ecclesiastical texts and prayer-books into the Hungarian language (Magyar).

Dormition of the Theotokos Cathedral, Budapest (exterior, interior)

In 1949, Patriarch Alexei I (Simansky) awarded him with right to wear the Jewelled Cross.

In 1950, new priests were ordained for the Hungarian deanery.

On 10-31 August, 1951, the Archpriest Ivan Kopolovich organised courses for the clergy and others with a view to increasing their theological knowledge, and strengthening their service skills. New parishes were opened and new Temples were constructed. The material life of the clergy was improved.

In 1951, Patriarch Alexei I (Simansky) awarded him with the right to carry a staff.

In 1952, in accordance with the petition, the monthly magazine "Ecclesiastical Chronicle" ("Egyházi Krónika") was launched.

In October, 1954, the Archpriest Ivan Kopolovich was sent back to the Soviet Union and to Trans-Carpathia.

In December, 1954, the Archpriest Ivan Kopolovich was again assigned to serve as the Secretary of the Mukachevo Diocesan Administration and as the rector of the Mukachevo Cathedral.

In 1954, Patriarch Alexei I (Simansky) awarded him with the right to wear a second jewelled Cross.

In 1955, Patriarch Alexei (Simansky) awarded him with the right to wear a mitre.

Trans-Carpathia, 1955-1959

In June, 1955, the Archpriest Ivan Kopolovich was assigned to serve as the dean of the Mukachevo cathedral in Trans-Carpathia, Ukraine.

At the same time, he was assigned to serve as the Vicar General (Bishop's Assistant) of the Prešov Diocese of the Czechoslovak Orthodox Church.

During this time, he entered the Prešov Orthodox Theological Faculty to study at the doctoral level.

Czechoslovakia, 1959-1964

In 1959, at the special request of the head of the Orthodox Church of Czechoslovakia, Archpriest Ivan Kopolovich was released from the Russian Orthodox Church by Patriarch Alexei I (Simansky), and he was transferred to the Orthodox Church of Czechoslovakia. He was assigned to serve as the “General Vicar” in Prešov.

In 1961, he graduated from the Prešov Orthodox Theological Faculty.

In 1963, he was awarded the title Doctor of Theology.

Bereavement, 1964 ; transfer to Moscow ; further study

In 1964, the wife of Mitred Archpriest Ivan Kopolovich reposed in the Lord.

In 1964, Mitred Archpriest Ivan Kopolovich was released from the Czechoslovakian Orthodox Church and he was transferred back to the Russian Orthodox Church.

On 1 December, 1964, he returned to the USSR.

In 1965, he was assigned to work in the Department of External Church Relations in Moscow. At the same time, he was assigned to lecture at the Moscow Theological Academy in “Zagorsk” (now Sergiyev Posad, north of Moscow).

Monastic tonsure, 1965

On 12 November, 1965, Mitred Archpriest Ivan Kopolovich was tonsured to be a monk at the Holy Trinity-Saint Sergius Monastery, and he was given the name Jonathan (Ionafan).

On 14 November, 1965, he was elevated to the dignity of archimandrite.

Episcopal ordination, 1965

On 28 November, 1965, Archimandrite Jonathan (Koplovich) was ordained to the Holy Episcopate by : Patriarch Alexei I (Simansky) ; Metropolitan Pimen (Izvekov) of Krutitsky and Kolomna ; ) Metropolitan Ioasaph (Lelyukhin) of Kiev and Galicia ; Metropolitan Nikodim (Rotov) of Leningrad and Ladoga ; Archbishop Cyprian (Zyornov) of Berlin and Central Europe ; Bishop Antoniy (Melnikov) of Minsk and Byelorus ; Leontiy (Gudimov) of Simferopol and Crimea ; Bishop Filaret (Denisenko) of Dmitrov ; and Bishop Pitirim (Nechaev) of Volokolamsk.

Episcopal service

It would come as no surprise (in the context of the details of his life) that Bishop Jonathan (Kopolovich) was given a gift for languages, and that he was capable of speaking 7 languages. This fact would have enabled him to fulfil his various obediences well.

After his ordination, Bishop Jonathan (Kopolovich) was given the following assignments and obediences :

Berlin and Middle-Europe Exarchate, 1966-1967

Bishop of Tegel, Germany, 1966

On 23 July, 1966, Bishop Jonathan (Kopolovich) was assigned to serve as the Bishop of Tegel (Berlin) and to serve as the Vicar-Bishop of the Middle-European Exarchate of the Russian Orthodox Church.

From 23 June, 1966, to 7 October, 1967, Bishop Jonathan (Kopolovich) served as the Locum Tenens of the Berlin Diocese and he served as the Exarch in Central Europe.

Locum Tenens of the Bishop of Vienna, 1967

From 7 July, 1966 to 7 October, 1967, Bishop Jonathan (Kopolovich) served as the Locum Tenens of the Vienna Diocese.

Exarch of North America, 1967-1970

On 7 October, 1967, Bishop Jonathan (Kopolovich) was elevated to the dignity of archbishop.

On 7 October, 1967, Bishop Jonathan (Kopolovich) was transferred, and he was assigned to serve as the Exarch for the Exarchate of North and South America.

His headquarters were in New York City, at the Saint Nicholas Russian Orthodox Cathedral at 15 East 97th Street.

On 20 March, 1969, Bishop Jonathan (Kopolovich) was included in the composition of the Commission of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church about Christian unity.

From 1968, Bishop Jonathan received Archpriest Matfei Stadniuk, who had been assigned to serve as secretary to the exarch.

Saint Nicholas Cathedral, New York City (exterior, interior)

Reconciliation of the "Metropolia" with the Moscow Patriarchate ; establishment of "The Orthodox Church in Americs", 1970

On 31 March 1970, the Russian Orthodox Greek Catholic Church of North America (ROGCCNA) was reconciled with the Moscow Patriarchate, and on the same day the Moscow Patriarchate gave autocephaly to this “Metropolia”. The new name for this autocephalous Church was to be The Orthodox Church in America (OCA).

Return to the USSR, 1970

On 10 April, 1970, in connexion with the withdrawal of the parishes of North America from the Exarchate, after the granting of autocephaly, Archbishop Jonathan (Kopolovich) was released from his assignment as the Exarch of the Americas, and from the administration of the New York Diocese, he was recalled to the USSR (Soviet Union), and he was given a two-month leave.

Archbishop of Tambov and Michurinsk, 1970-1972

On June 8, 1970, Archbishop Jonathan (Kopolovich) was assigned to serve as the Archbishop of the Tambov and Michurinsk Diocese.

Archbishop of Chişinău (Kishinev) and Moldavia, 1972-1987

From 11 October, 1972, Archbishop Jonathan (Kopolovich) was assigned to serve as the Archbishop of Chişinău and Moldova. He arrived in Chişinău on 14 October. This country was formerly a part of the historical Moldavia, when it was known as Bessarabia.

From 12 to 31 October, 1972, Archbishop Jonathan accompanied Patriarch Pimen (Izvekov) during his travels abroad, as he visited the Serbian, Romanian, and Greek Orthodox Churches.

During the time of his pastorate, Archbishop Jonathan (Kopolovich) showed great concern for the state of the Temples of Moldova that were affected by the earthquake of 7 March, 1977, and for their restoration.

Retirement, 1987

On 12 May, 1987, Archbishop Jonathan (Kopolovich) was given retirement. He returned to Mukachevo.

At the time of his retirement, there was in process an adjustment to the status of the Church in Moldova. In the context of various political changes associated with the fall of communism in Russia, the Russian Orthodox Church began to prepare the Excarchate in Moldova to become an Autonomous Orthodox Church. With the status of autonomy, this local Church would become almost completely independent. The local Church would be able to choose her own bishops, and even the Head (Metropolitan) of the Church. However, this choice of the Head of the Church would still require the blessing of the Holy Synod of Bishops and the Patriarch of the Church of Russia.

In October, 1992, the Metropolitanate of Moldova was granted autonomy by the Church of Russia.

Repose, 1990

On 21 May, 1990, Archbishop Jonathan (Kopolovich) fell asleep in the Lord in Mukachevo, at the age of 77.

After the Funeral Services for the Burial of a Hierarch, his body was interred at the Cemetery of the Saint Nicholas Monastery on the Chernechye Mountain.

Saint Nicholas Monastery

Grave marker

— Bishop of Tegel, 1966-1967. Preceded by : Bishop Filaret (Denysenko). Succeeded by : Archbishop Vladimir (Kotlyarov).

— Vicar-Bishop of the Middle-European Exarchate of the Moscow Patriarchate 1966-1967.

— Locum Tenens of the Diocese of Vienna, 1966-1967.

— Archbishop of New York and the Aleutians, Exarch of North and South America (MP) 1967-1970. Preceded by : Metropolitan John (Wendland). Succeeded by : Exarchate dissolved.

— Exarch of North and South America, 1967-1970.

— As Administrator of patriarchal parishes, succeeded by : Bishop Makary (Svistun).

— Archbishop of Tambov and Michurinsk, 1970-1972. Preceded by : Archbishop Antoniy (Krotevich). Succeeded by : Bishop Damaskin (Bodry.

— Archbishop of Chişinău and Moldova, 1972-1987. Preceded by : Archbishop Bartholomew (Gondarovskiy). Succeeded by : Metropolitan Serapion (Fadeyev).

— Former Archbishop of Chişinău and Moldova, 1987-1990.

Reflections

Awards

• Nabedrennik (1937)

• Purple Kamilavka (1939)

• Gold Pectoral Cross (31 December 1944)

• Jewelled Pectoral Cross (from Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Alexy I, 1949)

• Wearing 2 Jewelled Pectoral Crosses (21 January, 1954)

• Celebration of the Divine Liturgy with open Royal Doors before the Cherubim Hymn

• Mitre (from Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Alexei I, 1955)

• Order of Saints Cyril and Methodius 3rd degree (Czechoslovak Orthodox Church)

• Order of Saint Sergius of Radonezh, 2nd degree (28 May, 1982) (Russian Orthodox Church)

• Order of Saint Prince Vladimir, Equal-to-the-Apostles, 2nd degree (17 November, 1983)

Writings

• ‘Orthodox Deanery in Hungary’ in "Journal of the Moscow Patriarchate” (JMP), no. 4 (1954), pp. 13-15.

• ‘Speech upon Election as Bishop of Tegel’ in "JMP”, no. 1 (1966), p. 6.

• ‘Archbishop Panteleimon [Rudyk] : [Nekr.]’ in "JMP”, no. 12 (1968), pp. 26-30 (jointly with Archpriest A Sokolovsky).

• ‘Anniversary Speech at the Meeting dedicated to the 25th Anniversary of the Hungarian Orthodox Church Deanery on 24 November, 1974’ in "JMP”, no. 5 (1975), pp. 12-13.

Writings by various authors about the archbishop

• Danilets Yu V, 'Archbishop Jonathan (Kopolovich) : Documents and Materials' in "Rusyn International Historical Journal" (Chisinau, 2008), nos. 3/4 (13/14), pp. 148-159.

• ...... "Archbishop Jonathan (Kopolovich) : ‘Documents and Materials – Freedom of Conscience’ in “Russia, 1st and modern aspects, Sat. Art.” (St Petersburg, 2009), issue 7, pp. 375-389.

• ...... “Orthodox Church in Transcarpathia near the first Half of the 20th Century”, foreword by V Fenich (Uzhgorod : Karpaty, 2009).

• Dochinets M, Pagirya V, "Encyclopedia of Mukachev by Names" (Mukachevo, 2006) pp. 259-260.

• Dovganich, O D, 'Kopolovich Ivan Mikhailovich' in "Encyclopedia of Zakarpattya : Viznachni Individuals of the XX century" (Uzhgorod : Arazhda, 2007) pp. 171-172.

• (Lemeshevsky), Metropolitan Manuel, "Russian Orthodox Hierarchs of the Period 1893-1965”, biographical reference book in 6 vols., vol. 4 (Erlangen, Germany, 1984), pp. 14-16.

• GARF. F. R-6991. Op. 1.D. 582.L. 200; D. 994.L. 9, 17; D. 1321.L. 18, 21, 24-26, 45; Op. 2.D. 85.L. 42, 43; Op. 6.D. 131.L. 38 (Ukrainian State Archives of the Mukachevo-Uzhgorod Diocese (Mukachev, Transcarpathian region, Ukraine).

• ‘Decisions of the Holy Synod' in "Journal of the Moscow Patriarchate" (JMP), no. 12 (1965), p. 3 ; no. 7 (1966), p. 1 ; no. 8, p. 1 ; no. 11 (1967), p. 5 ; no. 8 (1968), p. 1 ; no. 4 (1969), p. 6 ; no. 5 (1970), p. 23 ; no. 11 p. 2 ; no. 11 (1972), p. 3 ; no. 11 (1974), p. 3 ; no. 2 (1975), p. 2 ; no. 12 (1976), p. 5.

• 'Alexy I, Patriarch of Moscow : Speech at the Presentation of the Archpastoral Staff to the newly-appointed Bishop of Tegel, Jonathan' in "JMP", no. 1 (1966), pp. 4-5.

• 'The Naming and Ordination of Archimandrite Jonathan (Kopolovich) as Bishop of Tegel, Vicar of the Berlin Diocese of the Central European Exarchate' in "JMP", no. 1 (1966), pp. 6-10.

• 'The Visit of Representatives of the Russian Orthodox Church in the Federal Republic of Germany' in "JMP", no. 5 (1967), p. 13.

• B., Archpriest Gregory, 'From the Life of the Dioceses : the Edmonton Diocese' in "JMP", no. 11 (1969), p. 23.

• 'Journal of the Meeting of Bishops' Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church on 9 April, 1970' in "JMP", no 5 (1970), p. 14.

• 'Journal of the Meeting of Bishops' Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church on 10 April, 1970' in "JMP", no 5 (1970), p. 23.

• 'From the Life of Dioceses : Tambov Diocese' in "JMP" (1971) no. 3, pp. 17-18 ; (1972) no. 5, p. 34 ; no. 12, pp. 29-30.

• 'Trip of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, Pimen' in "JMP", no. 11 (1972), pp. 1-2.

• 'Archbishop Pitirim (Nechaev) : Fraternal Visits of the Primate of the Russian Church' in "JMP", no. 2 (1973), p. 12 ; no. 5, p. 12.

• 'From the Life of the Dioceses : Kishinev Diocese' in "JMP", no. 6 (1973), p. 25 ;

- (1974) no. 7, pp. 11-12 ; no. 8, pp. 34-35 ;

- (1975) no. 4, pp. 17-18 ; no. 6, pp. 9-10 ; no. 7, pp. 22-23 ; no. 10, pp. 29-32 ; no. 12, pp. 24-25 ;

- (1976) no. 11, pp. 19-20 ;

- (1977) no. 5, pp. 17-18 ; no. 11, p. 23 ;

- (1978) no. 4, pp. 21-22 ;

- (1979) no. 1, pp. 23-24 ; no. 2, pp. 20-22 ; no. 9, pp. 20-21 ; no. 10, pp. 21-23 ;

- (1980) no. 1, p. 23 ; no. 4, pp. 15-16 ;

- (1981) no. 3, pp. 16-17 ;

- (1982) no. 6, pp. 42-44 ; no. 12, p. 61 ;

- (1983) no. 8, pp. 28-30 :

- (1984) no. 3, pp. 26-27 ; no. 4, pp. 21-22 ; no. 5, pp. 31-32 ; no. 6, pp. 21-23 ; no. 7, pp. 28-29 ;

• (1986) no. 8, p. 34.

• (Babinets), Bishop Savva, 'From the Life of the Dioceses : Mukachevo Diocese' in "JMP", no. 4 (1974), pp. 22-23.

• Bronsky, V, 'From the Life of the Theological Schools : In Leningrad' in "JMP", no. 1, (1975), p. 20.

• ‘Delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church in Hungary’ in "JMP", no. 2, pp. 5-6.

• Buburuz, Archpriest P, 'Abbess Alexandra of the Zhabsky Ascension Monastery' in "JMP", no. 1 (1981), p. 9.

• 'Zhabsky Ascension Monastery' in "JMP" no. 7 (1981), pp. 20-21.

• 'From the Life of the Dioceses : Chisinau Diocese –15th Anniversary of the Archpastoral Service of Archbishop Jonathan’ in "JMP", no. 9, pp. 32-33.

• 'From the Life of the Dioceses : Chisinau Diocese – 70th Anniversary of Archbishop Jonathan’ in "JMP", no. 2 (1983), pp. 49-50.

• 'Anniversary Celebrations in Moldova' in "JMP", no. 1 (1985), p. 49.

• 'L N K Sergius in T S L' in "JMP", no. 1 (1983), p. 11.

• ‘Patriarchal Awards’ in "JMP", no. 5 (1983) p. 9 ; (1984) no. 2, p. 5.

• 'Letters from Patriarch Alexy I to the Council for the Affairs of the Russian Orthodox Church under the Council of People's Commissars’ in “The Council of Ministers of the USSR : 1945-1970”, (Moscow, 2009), vol. 1, pp. 436, 437, 444, 632-634 ; vol. 2, pp. 117, 548.