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NikodimMetropolitan of Kharkov and Bogodukhovsky
Date of Birth: 18.04.1921
Country:  Ukraine |
Content:
- Early Life and Monastic Vows
- Priesthood and Archimandrite
- Bishop to Archbishop
- Exarch to Metropolitan
- Archbishop of Kharkov
- Archbishop of Lviv
- Metropolitan
- Metropolitan of Kharkov
- Head of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (1992)
- Later Life and Retirement
- Patriarchal Visit and Passing
- Burial and Legacy
Early Life and Monastic Vows
Nikodim was born into a peasant family and entered the Ioan-Bogoslovsky Krechatitsky Monastery in Bukovina as a novice in 1938. On January 6, 1945, he was tonsured into monasticism, ordained a hierodeacon on April 29, and a hieromonk on February 23, 1946.
Priesthood and Archimandrite
From 1950 to 1955, Nikodim served as the abbot of the Ioan-Bogoslovsky Krechatitsky Monastery. He graduated from the Moscow Theological Academy in 1958 with a candidate of theology degree.
Bishop to Archbishop
On April 23, 1958, Nikodim was assigned to the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem. On November 15, 1958, he was elevated to the rank of archimandrite and appointed head of the mission. On August 10, 1961, he was consecrated Bishop of Kostroma and Galich. On April 21, 1964, he became Bishop of Argentina and South America.
Exarch to Metropolitan
On February 25, 1968, Nikodim was elevated to the rank of archbishop and appointed Exarch of Central and South America. During this time, he actively translated liturgical texts into Spanish, culminating in the publication of the "Liturgikon" in Buenos Aires in 1970, the first Orthodox "Service Book" in Spanish.
Archbishop of Kharkov
On December 1, 1970, Nikodim was appointed Archbishop of Kharkov and Bogodukhov, while serving as acting Exarch of Central and South America until 1977.
Archbishop of Lviv
On November 23, 1983, Nikodim became Archbishop of Lviv and Ternopil, temporarily assuming leadership of the Kharkov diocese until March 28, 1984.
Metropolitan
On April 9, 1985, Nikodim was elevated to the rank of metropolitan. From December 27, 1988, he served as Metropolitan of Lviv and Drogobych.
Metropolitan of Kharkov
On September 13, 1989, Nikodim was appointed Metropolitan of Kharkov and Bogodukhov.
Head of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (1992)
From May 27 to 28, 1992, Nikodim presided over the Archpastoral Council of the Ukrainian Church in Kharkov, which voted to dismiss Metropolitan Filaret (Denisenko) from the Kyiv diocese and banned him from performing priestly duties.
Later Life and Retirement
Nikodim became a permanent member of the Holy Synod of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in June 1992. He chaired the Ukrainian Orthodox Church's Commission on the Canonization of Saints from December 27, 1994, until his retirement in 2006 due to the burden of diocesan affairs.
Patriarchal Visit and Passing
On May 7-8, 2011, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia visited Kharkov to congratulate Nikodim on his 90th birthday. On September 15, 2011, Nikodim passed away peacefully at his residence in Kharkov.
Burial and Legacy
After a funeral liturgy on September 17, Nikodim was buried near the altar of the Holy Martyr Meletius of Kharkov chapel in the lower temple of the Holy Annunciation Cathedral. Nikodim was one of the most respected and influential bishops in the Russian Orthodox Church, known for his piety, scholarship, and tireless pastoral work.
