 |
Archbishop AlexanderBishop of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (since 2019)
Date of Birth: 18.03.1977
Country:  Ukraine |
Content:
- Early Life and Education
- Theological Career
- Ordination and Monasticism
- Episcopal Ministry in the UOC
- Awards
- Secular
Early Life and Education
Alexander (Drabynko) was born on March 18, 1977, in the city of Korets in the Rivne region of Ukraine to a family of civil servants. In 1994, he graduated with honors from Secondary School No. 3 in Korets. The same year, he entered the Moscow Theological Seminary, which he completed with honors in 1998.
Theological Career
From 1998 to 2002, Alexander pursued his studies at the Kyiv Theological Academy. Upon graduation, he defended his dissertation on "Orthodoxy in Post-Totalitarian Ukraine: Historical Milestones." For this work, he was awarded the degree of Candidate of Theology by the Academic Council of KTA. From 1998 onward, he served as an aide to Volodymyr (Sabodan), the Metropolitan of Kyiv and All Ukraine.
In 2003, Alexander became the co-author and host of the joint project of the Era Television and Radio Broadcasting Company and Kyiv Theological Academy's television programs department, "Orthodox World." The project was closed in 2005 without explanation.
Ordination and Monasticism
On May 20, 2004, Alexander was ordained a deacon by Metropolitan Volodymyr at the Church of Saint Mary Magdalene in Tiberias, Israel. On July 1, 2006, by decree No. 936-1 of the Kyiv Metropolitanate, he was appointed the personal secretary of the Primate of the UOC.
On July 28, 2006, Alexander was ordained a presbyter at the Dormition Cathedral of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra by Metropolitan Volodymyr. From August 1, 2006, he served as the chief editor of the official website of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (orthodox.org.ua) and as the editor-in-chief of the official church newspaper, "Tserkovna (Pravoslavna) Gazeta."
On August 20, 2006, at the Panteleimon Monastery on Mount Athos, Greece, Alexander was tonsured into monasticism by Metropolitan Volodymyr and given the name Alexander in honor of Saint Alexander Svirsky. On August 28, 2006, he was elevated to the rank of hegumen and on September 24 to the rank of archimandrite by Metropolitan Volodymyr at the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra.
Episcopal Ministry in the UOC
On December 14, 2007, by resolution of the Holy Synod of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Alexander was appointed Bishop of Pereyaslav-Khmelnytskyi, Vicar of the Kyiv Metropolitanate. On December 18, 2007, his ordination as bishop took place in the refectory church of Saints Anthony and Theodosius of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra. On December 27, 2007, Alexander was consecrated by the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church as a member of the Inter-Council Presence of the Russian Orthodox Church.
From late January 2010, Alexander is mentioned as acting chairman of the UOC's Department of External Church Relations. On December 19, 2010, at the crypt of the Basilica of Saint Nicholas in Bari, Italy, Alexander was elevated to the rank of archbishop. On June 14, 2011, he was confirmed as chairman of the Department of External Church Relations of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church with the title Archbishop of Pereyaslav-Khmelnytskyi and Vishnevskyi, and was made a permanent member of the UOC Synod.
From June 2013 to September 2013, Alexander's name was linked in numerous media publications and online blogs to a criminal case involving the abduction of two nuns from the Holy Protection Monastery in Kyiv. Alexander was brought into the case as a witness.
On December 15, 2018, Alexander, along with Metropolitan Simeon (Shostatskiy) of Vinnytsia, participated in the "Unification Council" that established the Orthodox Church of Ukraine. On December 17, the Synod of the UOC (MP) decided to prohibit Alexander and Simeon from serving and лишил Alexander the title "Vicar of the Kyiv Metropolitanate."
Awards
EcclesiasticalSecond pectoral cross with decorations (January 7, 2007)
Order of Saint Nestor the Chronicler, 1st degree
Order of Saint Vladimir, Equal-to-the-Apostles, 2nd degree
Order of the Head of the UOC (March 18, 2012)
"Cross of the Brotherhood of the Holy Sepulchre with a Golden Crown," Jerusalem Orthodox Church (November 28, 2012)
Secular
Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise, 5th degree (January 13, 2019)Order of Merit, 2nd degree (January 22, 2013)
Order of Merit, 3rd degree (2009)
Order of Saint Anna, 2nd degree (2011, "Russian Imperial House")
Order "For Good Deeds," 1st degree (November 17, 2013, International Historical and Literary Journal "Stranik")
