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Andrey GorakBishop of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kyiv Patriarchate
Date of Birth: 01.03.1946
Country:  Ukraine |
Content:
Bishop Andriy Horeiko: A Key Figure in the Ukrainian Orthodox Church Schism
Early Life and Education
Bishop Andriy Horeiko was born on March 1, 1946, in the village of Polyana, Lviv Oblast, Ukraine. He completed his primary education in 1961 and went on to study at a medical college from 1961 to 1965. From 1968 to 1975, he pursued a degree in biology at Lviv State University.
Ordination and Early Ministry
While attending the university, Horeiko served as an ipodeacon to Metropolitan Nikolay (Yurik) of Lviv and Ternopil. In April 1976, he was ordained a deacon and a priest in 1976 and 1979, respectively. He completed his theological education at the Leningrad Theological Academy in 1979, obtaining a Candidate of Divinity degree.
Upon graduating, he returned to Lviv as Metropolitan Nikolay's personal secretary. He served at the Transfiguration Church in Lviv until his appointment as secretary of the Lviv Diocese in 1990.
Archbishop of Lviv and the Ukrainian Orthodox Church Kiev Patriarchate
With the departure of Metropolitan Nikodym (Rusnak) and Archbishop Iryney (Seredniy), Horeiko was elected ruling bishop of the Lviv Diocese in 1990. He was ordained a bishop and received the title "Bishop of Lviv and Drohobych."
Under Bishop Horeiko's leadership, the Lviv Diocese faced a difficult period as the Greek Catholic Church emerged from the shadows and conflicts arose over the possession of churches. Despite the loss of parishes, Bishop Horeiko did not take measures to stem the tide.
He played an active role in the movement for the autocephaly of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and became a supporter of Metropolitan Filaret (Denysenko). In 1992, he joined the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church, which later merged with Filaret's faction to form the Ukrainian Orthodox Church Kiev Patriarchate (UOC-KP).
Condemnation and Schism
Horeiko's involvement in the schism led to his excommunication by the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in 1992. He remained with the UOC-KP, serving as the "Bishop of Lviv and Sokal."
Later Years and Death
Despite attempts at reconciliation with the canonical Orthodox Church, Horeiko remained a central figure in the UOC-KP, holding the title of Metropolitan from 1995 and serving as a member and secretary of the Holy Synod.
In 2008, he became seriously ill but continued his duties as bishop. He passed away on July 5, 2010, at the age of 64.
Metropolitan Hilarion (Alfeyev) of the Russian Orthodox Church stated that Horeiko expressed a desire to repent and return to the canonical Orthodox Church before his death. However, this was not realized.
