Volodymyr Sabodan

Metropolitan Vladimir (Volodymyr; secular name Viktor Markianovich Sabodan, Виктор Маркианович Сабодан, Віктор Маркіянович Сабодан, November 23, 1935 – July 5, 2014) was the Metropolitan of Kiev and the Exarch of Ukraine in the Patriarchate of Moscow, and, ex officio, the head of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) (UOC-MP) from 1992 to 2014. He was styled "His Beatitude, Vladimir, Metropolitan of Kyiv and all Ukraine". At that time, the Church in Ukraine was the only Eastern Orthodox Church inside Ukraine to have canonical standing (legal recognition) in Eastern Orthodoxy worldwide.

Early life
Viktor Sabodan was born November 23, 1935, in a peasant family in Letychiv Raion of Vinnytsia Oblast (today - Khmelnytskyi Oblast).

In the late 1950s and early 1960s Sabodan studied at Odesa and later Leningrad Theological Seminary.

In 1965 Sabodan completed the post-graduate course at the Moscow Theological Academy and was appointed Rector of the Odesa Theological Seminary and elevated to the rank of Archimandrite. In 1966 he was appointed Deputy Head of the Russian Orthodox Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem.

Episcopacy
In 1966 Sabodan was appointed Bishop of Zvenigorod. His episcopal consecration was conferred on July 9, 1966, by Pimen I of Moscow in the Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius. In 1969 he was nominated Bishop of Chernihiv and temporary administrator of Sumy Diocese. On September 9, 1973, he was elevated to the rank of Archbishop of Moscow Diocese and Rector of the Moscow Theological Academy and Seminary.

On July 16, 1982, he was appointed to Rostov-on-Don Diocese and elevated to the rank of Metropolitan. From 1984 he was Patriarchal Exarch of Western Europe, and from 1987, Chancellor of Moscow Patriarchate and a permanent member of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church (ex officio).

In 1992, he was elected by the Kharkiv Council of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church as Metropolitan of Kyiv, and Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. Later than year he was enthroned as Metropolitan of Kyiv and all Ukraine, replacing Metropolitan Filaret who was excommunicated for “participating in schismatic activities.” Sabodan was the author of numerous research papers on theology, the majority of which were included in the six-volume edition of his works published in 1997–1998.

Sabodan enjoyed singing and collected recordings of Ukrainian folk songs as well as stamps and postcards. He had no objections to a good meal. In January 2008, Sabodan performed the service of consecration of the altar and temple in the parliament (Verkhovna Rada) of Ukraine.

In 2011 Sabodan was awarded the title Hero of Ukraine.

Death
Sabodan died on July 5, 2014, from internal bleeding at the age of 78. Metropolitan Onuphrius was elected his successor on August 13, 2014.

State awards

 * Hero of Ukraine (The Order of the State) (2011)
 * The Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise 1st (2008), 2nd (2005), 3rd (2002), 4th (2000) and 5th (1999) cl.
 * The Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise 1st (2008), 2nd (2005), 3rd (2002), 4th (2000) and 5th (1999) cl.