Gedeon Chetvertinsky

Gedeon Chetvertinsky (Russian: Гедеон, secular name Grigory Zakharovich Svyatopolk-Chetvertinsky, Russian: Григорий Захарович Святополк-Четвертинский) was a Ruthenian prince and hierarch of the Eastern Orthodox Church, who accepted allegiance to Moscow. In 1685, he was appointed by the Patriarch of Moscow to the rank of "Metropolitan of Kiev, Galicia and all Ruthenia", a title he held through 1690.^[1] The appointment was on the recommendation of the Hetman of the Zaporizhian Host — Ivan Samoylovych.

Gedeon Chetvertinsky

Gedeon was born as Hryhoriy to the starosta of Racibórz Zachary Svyatopolk-Chetvertynsky and Regina Chrenicka in Volhynian Voivodeship, Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth.

From 1660 to 1684, he was a bishop of Lutsk and Ostroh in Volhynia (today Volyn diocese).

In October 1685, he went to Moscow to be installed formally in the metropolis by Patriarch Joachim of Moscow. His decision to accept his installation from the Patriarchate of Moscow undermined the independence of the Orthodox Church in those parts of the Ruthenia lands that lay in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. The decision was schismatic and was not recognised by the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. It was also opposed by many church leaders in Ukraine. He had two successors who were also styled "Metropolitan of Kiev, Halych and Little Russia": Varlaam (1690–1707) and Joasaph (1707–1718).

Gallery

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  Gedeon's mitre, 1685 (Historical museum, Moscow)

See also

• Czetwertyński family
• Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate)