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Nameday
of Metropolitan Ilarion Ohienko
Not too long ago, I came across my Grade 5 teacher, Mr. Glenn Miller,
whom I have not seen for 35 years.
Of all my teachers, including those in high school and university, Mr.
Miller has, by far, had the most significant impact on my life.
Our meeting was quite by chance and, now that I have him back in
my life, I am not going to let him go again!
It is true to say that, during this century, Metropolitan Ilarion
Ohienko has had the most significant impact, as a Teacher and Father, on
the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and her faithful.
Today is his Nameday according to the name he received in monastic
tonsure and by which he has been known throughout his ecclesiastical
tenure. His name in the
world was Ivan and, in accordance with Orthodox monastic tradition, the
new name begins with the first letter of one's former name . . .
Born on 15 January 1882 in Brusyliv near Kyiv, Ivan Ohienko exhibited
strong academic abilities. Having
completed medical studies, he changed the course of his academic studies
and turned his scholarly gaze toward history and philology.
His work on Joannicius Halyatovsky won him much acclaim as he
entered the rank of a university professor, at Kyiv, Prague, Moscow and
Warsaw.
In 1917, Professor Ohienko became a Minister of Education with the
Central Rada in Kyiv. He
was such under the Government of Hetman Paul Skoropadsky and then
Minister of Religion.
After the death of his wife, Dominique, in 1937, the Church eyed
Professor Ohienko as a candidate for the Orthodox Episcopate. In October of 1940, Ivan Ohienko was ordained and then
consecrated Bishop of Kholm. He
also held the rank of Archimandrite.
In 1944, he became the Metropolitan of Kholm and Pidliashia.
In 1947, the Metropolitan arrived in Canada and in 1951, he was
elected Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada.
The Metropolitan will always be known for his many books on topics
related to Ukrainian religion, culture and history.
His "magnum opus" of the Ukrainian Bible translation is a case
in point. Published by the
Bible Societies, it became the official Bible of the Ukrainian Orthodox
Church, of Ukrainian Protestant and Evangelical Churches and of anyone
with a sound appreciation for good Ukrainian literary style . . .
As he discussed in a backgrounder book on his translation, His Beatitude
said he intended the Bible to be a solid basis from which all Ukrainians
could learn the Truth of Christ in the context of the Ukrainian
language.
It was also meant to be a help in learning Ukrainian, as His Beatitude
placed many accents on words which were often mispronounced in popular
idiom. As an avid reader of
this translation, I can say that it has improved both my understanding
of Scripture and my Ukrainian!
Ohienko also wrote a five-volume set on Ukrainian language studies.
As with all his works, these are easy to understand as his
linguistic style flows smoothly and lucidly.
He avoided heavy "academic" wording.
His great work on Pre-Christian Beliefs helps to locate the source for
many Ukrainian traditions. His
work on Cyril and Methodius discusses the development of Church Slavonic
and modern Ukrainian. His
books on Ukrainian Saints and the Church serve to instill great pride in
the tradition of St Andrew which is that of Kyivan Christianity.
His work on the Pochayiv Lavra integrates all known research on its
history. He writes as if he
were actually there (which, I found out later, he was!). His books on Arsenius Matsievich, Dmytry Tuptalo, Taras
Shevchenko, the Tale of Ihor's Campaign, the Sign of the Cross, the
Three-Bar Cross as the National Cross of Ukraine and many others
-- all these stand
as a testimony to his work as a true Teacher of the people in the ways
and traditions of Ukrainian Orthodoxy.
He continues to inspire one and all.
Let us continue to remember him in our prayers, on January 15th
his birthday and on the day of his repose or March 29th,
together with his Nameday of St Ilarion the Great.
This website was undertaken under the great inspiration of Metropolitan
Ilarion Ohienko and it is dedicated to him and his ideals.
I've written about what the great Metropolitan meant and means to me.
How about you? Please
write to tell us about what he means to you!
Different people will have different reasons for acclaiming Metropolitan
Ilarion Ohienko. Please
feel free to send your own comments in this regard to this website! |
