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The Metropolis of Halych was a
metropolis A metropolis () is a large city or conurbation which is a significant economic, political, and cultural center for a country or region, and an important hub for regional or international connections, commerce, and communications. A big c ...
of the
Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople The Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople ( el, Οἰκουμενικὸν Πατριαρχεῖον Κωνσταντινουπόλεως, translit=Oikoumenikón Patriarkhíon Konstantinoupóleos, ; la, Patriarchatus Oecumenicus Constanti ...
in the
Eastern Orthodox Church The Eastern Orthodox Church, also called the Orthodox Church, is the second-largest Christian church, with approximately 220 million baptized members. It operates as a communion of autocephalous churches, each governed by its bishops vi ...
. It was erected on the territory of the
Kingdom of Galicia–Volhynia , conventional_long_name = Principality of Galicia–VolhyniaKingdom of Galicia–Volhynia , common_name = Galicia–Volhynia , status = Vassal state of the Golden Horde (from 1246) , era = Middle Ages , year_start = 1199 , year_end = 1349 , ...
in 1303 by Patriarch Athanasius I of Constantinople. The episcopal seat of the metropolis was in the city of
Halych Halych ( uk, Га́лич ; ro, Halici; pl, Halicz; russian: Га́лич, Galich; german: Halytsch, ''Halitsch'' or ''Galitsch''; yi, העליטש) is a historic city on the Dniester River in western Ukraine. The city gave its name to the ...
in the "Cathedral of the Assumption".


Historical background

In 1241, the Kingdom of Galicia-Volhynia was captured by the
Mongol army The Mongols ( mn, Монголчууд, , , ; ; russian: Монголы) are an East Asian ethnic group native to Mongolia, Inner Mongolia in China and the Buryatia Republic of the Russian Federation. The Mongols are the principal member of ...
.ПСРЛ. — Т. 2. Ипатьевская летопись. — СПб., 1908. — Стлб. 786 In 1245, King Daniel of Galicia won a decisive battle over the Hungarian-Polish army of his opponent Rostislav Mikhailovich and united Halychia with
Volhynia Volhynia (also spelled Volynia) ( ; uk, Воли́нь, Volyn' pl, Wołyń, russian: Волы́нь, Volýnʹ, ), is a historic region in Central and Eastern Europe, between south-eastern Poland, south-western Belarus, and western Ukraine. The ...
. After this victory, he built his residence in Kholm in the western part of Volhynia. After Daniel's visit to
Batu Khan Batu Khan ( – 1255),, ''Bat haan'', tt-Cyrl, Бату хан; ; russian: хан Баты́й was a Mongol ruler and founder of the Golden Horde, a constituent of the Mongol Empire. Batu was a son of Jochi, thus a grandson of Genghis Khan. ...
, he made payments of tribute to the
Golden Horde The Golden Horde, self-designated as Ulug Ulus, 'Great State' in Turkic, was originally a Mongol and later Turkicized khanate established in the 13th century and originating as the northwestern sector of the Mongol Empire. With the fragment ...
. In 1299, the
Metropolitan of Kiev and All Rus' The Metropolis of Kiev and all Rus' (russian: Митрополит Киевский и всея Руси, Mitropolit Kiyevskiy i vseya Rusi; ) was a metropolis of the Eastern Orthodox Church that was erected on the territory of Kievan Rus'. It exi ...
Maximus — transferred the metropolitan seat from
Kiev Kyiv, also spelled Kiev, is the capital and most populous city of Ukraine. It is in north-central Ukraine along the Dnieper River. As of 1 January 2021, its population was 2,962,180, making Kyiv the seventh-most populous city in Europe. Ky ...
to the city of Vladimir-on-Klyazma. In reaction to this move, King Daniel's son and successor on the throne — Leo I — petitioned the Ecumenical Patriarch to erect a new metropolis in the territory of his kingdom. Leo died in 1301 but his son — Yuri I of Galicia — succeeded in securing the charter of establishment from Patriarch Athanasius I of Constantinople with the approval of Emperor Andronikos II Palaiologos.


Eparchies

There were five
suffragan A suffragan bishop is a type of bishop in some Christian denominations. In the Anglican Communion, a suffragan bishop is a bishop who is subordinate to a metropolitan bishop or diocesan bishop (bishop ordinary) and so is not normally jurisdiction ...
sees ( eparchies) in the metropolis that were mostly located in the region of
Volhynia Volhynia (also spelled Volynia) ( ; uk, Воли́нь, Volyn' pl, Wołyń, russian: Волы́нь, Volýnʹ, ), is a historic region in Central and Eastern Europe, between south-eastern Poland, south-western Belarus, and western Ukraine. The ...
: Volodymyr of Volhynia,
Lutsk Lutsk ( uk, Луцьк, translit=Lutsk}, ; pl, Łuck ; yi, לוצק, Lutzk) is a city on the Styr River in northwestern Ukraine. It is the administrative center of the Volyn Oblast (province) and the administrative center of the surrounding Luts ...
, Peremysl, Turiv, Kholm.


Metropolitan Niphont (1303–1305)

Little is known about the first metropolitan — Niphont (1303–1305). Following his death, the see lay vacant for three years. During that time, there were civil struggles with neighbouring realms. A Catholic from the Polish
Piast dynasty The House of Piast was the first historical ruling dynasty of Poland. The first documented Polish monarch was Duke Mieszko I (c. 930–992). The Piasts' royal rule in Poland ended in 1370 with the death of king Casimir III the Great. Branc ...
Yuri II Boleslav — succeeded to the throne of Halych. In 1308, he nominated
Peter of Moscow Peter, Metropolitan of Kiev and all Rus (russian: Пётр; c. 1260 – 20 December 1326) was the Russian metropolitan who moved his see from Vladimir to Moscow in 1325. Later he was proclaimed a patron saint of Moscow. In spite of the move, th ...
as
Metropolitan of Kiev and all Rus' The Metropolis of Kiev and all Rus' (russian: Митрополит Киевский и всея Руси, Mitropolit Kiyevskiy i vseya Rusi; ) was a metropolis of the Eastern Orthodox Church that was erected on the territory of Kievan Rus'. It exi ...
. In the absence of a hierarch in Halych, Peter was effectively the administrator of that metropolis as well as his own metropolis of Kiev. In 1325, Peter moved his metropolitan seat to the west from Vladimir to
Moscow Moscow ( , US chiefly ; rus, links=no, Москва, r=Moskva, p=mɐskˈva, a=Москва.ogg) is the capital and largest city of Russia. The city stands on the Moskva River in Central Russia, with a population estimated at 13.0 million ...
.


Metropolitan Gabriel (1326–1329)

Following the death of Peter in 1326, the see of Halych was filled by Gabriel. Two years later, Theognostus of Kiev (reigned 1328–1353) was consecrated as the Metropolitan of Kiev and all Rus'. Theognostus and the Grand Dukes of Moscow wanted to get rid of a rival metropolis in Rus' lands. After Gabriel's death in 1329, the metropolis entered a period of crisis. The see again lay vacant until 1337.


Metropolitan Theodore (1337–1347)

In 1337, Patriarch
John XIV of Constantinople John XIV, surnamed Kalekas ( el, ; c. 1282 – 29 December 1347) was the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople from 1334 to 1347. He was an anti-hesychast and opponent of Gregory Palamas. He was an active participant in the Byzantine civil war ...
approved the appointment of a new Metropolitan of Halych — Theodore. Little is known about his career. Following his death in 1347, the Grand Prince of Moscow —
Simeon Simeon () is a given name, from the Hebrew ( Biblical ''Šimʿon'', Tiberian ''Šimʿôn''), usually transliterated as Shimon. In Greek it is written Συμεών, hence the Latinized spelling Symeon. Meaning The name is derived from Simeon, s ...
— conspired with Theognostus of Kiev to convince Emperor
John VI Kantakouzenos John VI Kantakouzenos or Cantacuzene ( el, , ''Iōánnēs Ángelos Palaiológos Kantakouzēnós''; la, Johannes Cantacuzenus;  – 15 June 1383) was a Byzantine Greek nobleman, statesman, and general. He served as grand domestic under A ...
to disestablish the Halych metropolis. At that time, the Kingdom of Galicia–Volhynia was convulsed by the Galicia–Volhynia Wars which resulted in the kingdom being sundered between the
Grand Duchy of Lithuania The Grand Duchy of Lithuania was a European state that existed from the 13th century to 1795, when the territory was partitioned among the Russian Empire, the Kingdom of Prussia, and the Habsburg Empire of Austria. The state was founded by Lit ...
and the Kingdom of Poland.


Erection of the Metropolis of Lithuania-Volhynia

Theognostus of Kiev died in 1353. He was succeeded in the Metropolis of Kiev and all Rus' by
Alexius Alexius is the Latinized form of the given name Alexios ( el, Αλέξιος, polytonic , "defender", cf. Alexander), especially common in the later Byzantine Empire. The female form is Alexia ( el, Αλεξία) and its variants such as Alessia ...
(reigned 1354–1378). In 1355, after diplomatic struggles, a restored Patriarch Callistus I of Constantinople, in agreement with Philotheus, united the Metropolis of Halych with the Metropolis of Lithuania under the leadership of Metropolitan Roman. Callistus also confirmed that
Alexius Alexius is the Latinized form of the given name Alexios ( el, Αλέξιος, polytonic , "defender", cf. Alexander), especially common in the later Byzantine Empire. The female form is Alexia ( el, Αλεξία) and its variants such as Alessia ...
remained in possession of the "Metropolis of Kiev and all Rus'". All eparchies of the Halych metropolis were transferred to the jurisdiction of a united metropolis, which was also known as the "Metropolis of Lithuania-Volhynia". The rivalry between Roman and Alexius continued until Roman's death in 1362. From 1362 to 1371, the vacant see of Lithuania–Halych was administered by Alexius.


Disestablishment of the Metropolis of Lithuania–Volhynia

In 1370 or 1371, the united metropolis was disestablished by Patriarch
Philotheus I of Constantinople Philotheos Kokkinos ( Thessaloniki, c. 1300 – Constantinople, 1379) was the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople for two periods from November 1353 to 1354 and 1364 to 1376, and a leader of the Byzantine monastic and religious revival i ...
. The territory of the former metropolis was reunited to the Metropolis of Kiev under
Alexius Alexius is the Latinized form of the given name Alexios ( el, Αλέξιος, polytonic , "defender", cf. Alexander), especially common in the later Byzantine Empire. The female form is Alexia ( el, Αλεξία) and its variants such as Alessia ...
. The territory of the former metropolises of Halych and of Lithuania were officially lowered to the rank of bishoprics within the Kiev metropolis. These changes, however, did not end the political rivalry for religious influence in Rus'.


Re-establishment of the Metropolis of Halych

Just before his death, King
Casimir III the Great Casimir III the Great ( pl, Kazimierz III Wielki; 30 April 1310 – 5 November 1370) reigned as the King of Poland from 1333 to 1370. He also later became King of Ruthenia in 1340, and fought to retain the title in the Galicia-Volhynia Wars. He w ...
of Poland revived the Halych metropolis for a short period. Casimir cited the precedent of the existence of a metropolis created by Athanasios I. He convinced Philotheus I, who served as Patriarch of Constantinople for the second time, to consecrate Antoniy as Metropolitan of Halych. In May 1371, he wrote to Alexius informing him that he had separated the Halych (Galician), Kholm, Turov, Peremyshl, and Vladimir-Volhynia dioceses from the Kiev metropolis for the third time. He proclaimed one of the bishops of these dioceses — Anthony — as Metropolitan of Halych. Antoniy only exercised control over the three eparchies that were within the territory of the expanded Polish realm. Following the death of Antoniy in 1391, King
Władysław II Jagiełło Jogaila (; 1 June 1434), later Władysław II Jagiełło ()He is known under a number of names: lt, Jogaila Algirdaitis; pl, Władysław II Jagiełło; be, Jahajła (Ягайла). See also: Names and titles of Władysław II Jagiełło. ...
tried to have Ivan, the Bishop of Lutsk, consecrated as Antoniy's successor. Ivan failed to receive the approval of the patriarch. The revived metropolis was again extinguished, never to rise again.


Disputes in Lithuania

The
Grand Duke of Lithuania The monarchy of Lithuania concerned the monarchical head of state of Kingdom of Lithuania, Lithuania, which was established as an Absolute monarchy, absolute and hereditary monarchy. Throughout Lithuania's history there were three Duke, ducal D ...
Algirdas Algirdas ( be, Альгерд, Alhierd, uk, Ольгерд, Ольґерд, Olherd, Olgerd, pl, Olgierd;  – May 1377) was the Grand Duke of Lithuania. He ruled the Lithuanians and Ruthenians from 1345 to 1377. With the help of his br ...
— attacked Muscovy on three occasions between 1368 and 1372 as part of the Lithuanian–Muscovite War. This was in support of his ally, Mikhail II,
Prince of Tver The title of Prince of Tver was borne by the head of the branch of the Rurikid dynasty that ruled the Principality of Tver. In 1247 Tver was allocated to Grand Prince Alexander Nevsky, and became an independent principality. In 1252, the principali ...
. It may also have been motivated by a desire to advance his calls for a separate metropolis for the Grand Duchy that was independent of Moscow.
Cyprian Cyprian (; la, Thaschus Caecilius Cyprianus; 210 – 14 September 258 AD''The Liturgy of the Hours according to the Roman Rite: Vol. IV.'' New York: Catholic Book Publishing Company, 1975. p. 1406.) was a bishop of Carthage and an early Chri ...
was sent by the Patriarch as a trustee (envoy) to the Rus' princes in the Lithuanian and Muscovite lands with the goal to reconcile the Lithuanian and Tverite princes with Metropolitan Alexius and to prevent the total division of the Church between Wilno and Moscow.Shabuldo, F.
Cyprian (КИПРІЯН)
'. Encyclopedia of History of Ukraine. 2007
Cyprian went to Constantinople from the Grand Duchy of Lithuania carrying a letter from the leading Ruthenian Eastern Orthodox clergy requesting the patriarch to consecrate him as the Metropolitan of Lithuania. Hostilities between Moscow and Lithuania resumed; in August 1375 Muscovite troops captured
Tver Tver ( rus, Тверь, p=tvʲerʲ) is a city and the administrative centre of Tver Oblast, Russia. It is northwest of Moscow. Population: Tver was formerly the capital of a powerful medieval state and a model provincial town in the Russia ...
. Patriarch Philotheus I was aware of the threat of Catholization of the population of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. He therefore agreed to grant the petition of the previous Grand Duke — Algirdas — to create a separate metropolis in the territory of the Grand Duchy. Philotheus also listened to the petitions of the Eastern Orthodox princes to have Cyprian as their
metropolitan Metropolitan may refer to: * Metropolitan area, a region consisting of a densely populated urban core and its less-populated surrounding territories * Metropolitan borough, a form of local government district in England * Metropolitan county, a typ ...
. On 2 December 1375 at the Council of Constantinople, Philotheus consecrated Cyprian as "Metropolitan of Kiev, Russia and Lithuania", under a condition that "upon the death of Alexius, Cyprian should become the Metropolitan of Kiev and all Rus"."Repose of St Cyprian the Metropolitan of Moscow and All Russia", Orthodox Church in America
/ref> In 1414, Grand Duke
Vytautas Vytautas (c. 135027 October 1430), also known as Vytautas the Great (Lithuanian: ', be, Вітаўт, ''Vitaŭt'', pl, Witold Kiejstutowicz, ''Witold Aleksander'' or ''Witold Wielki'' Ruthenian: ''Vitovt'', Latin: ''Alexander Vitoldus'', Ol ...
attempted to re-establish the Metropolis of Lithuania. He arranged for a synod of bishops to elect Gregory Tsamblak as the Metropolitan of Lithuania. The consecration took place without the consent of Patriarch Euthymius II of Constantinople and was not recognized in Moscow. The rivalry effectively ended in 1448 when Moscow began selecting the metropolitans independently without approval from the Ecumenical Patriachate, which collapsed in 1453. In 1458 two metropolises of Kiev and all Russia and Halych were merged by the Patriarch of Constantinople into one, the Metropolis of Kiev, Halych and all Russia.


List of metropolitans

* 1303–1305 Niphont * 1305–1326 ''
sede vacante ''Sede vacante'' ( in Latin.) is a term for the state of a diocese while without a bishop. In the canon law of the Catholic Church, the term is used to refer to the vacancy of the bishop's or Pope's authority upon his death or resignation. H ...
''. The metropolis was effectively administered by
Peter of Moscow Peter, Metropolitan of Kiev and all Rus (russian: Пётр; c. 1260 – 20 December 1326) was the Russian metropolitan who moved his see from Vladimir to Moscow in 1325. Later he was proclaimed a patron saint of Moscow. In spite of the move, th ...
(as Metropolitan of Kiev and all Rus') * 1326–1329 Gabriel * 1329–1337 ''sede vacante''. The metropolis was effectively administered by Theognostus of Kiev (as Metropolitan of Kiev and all Rus') * 1337–1347 Teodore ; Disestablishment of the Metropolis of Halych :* 1347–1353 The territory of the former metropolis was again administered by Theognostus of Kiev (as Metropolitan of Kiev and all Rus') :* 1353–1356 The territory of the former metropolis was administered by
Alexius Alexius is the Latinized form of the given name Alexios ( el, Αλέξιος, polytonic , "defender", cf. Alexander), especially common in the later Byzantine Empire. The female form is Alexia ( el, Αλεξία) and its variants such as Alessia ...
(as Metropolitan of Kiev and all Rus') ;Establishment of the Metropolis of Lithuania-Volhynia :* 1356–1362 Transfer of all former Halych eparchies to a newly erected "Metropolis of Lithuania-Volhynia" under Metropolitan Roman ;Disestablishment of the Metropolis of Lithuania-Volhynia :* 1362–1370 ''sede vacante''. The territory of the former metropolis was again effectively administered by Alexius ;Establishment of the Metropolis of Halych (of the second creation) :* 1370–1391 Antoniy (as Metropolitan of Halych) ;Disestablishment of the Metropolis of Halych ;Establishment of the "Metropolis of Kiev, Russia and Lithuania" (1375) ;Disestablishment of the "Metropolis of Kiev, Russia and Lithuania" (1376)


References


External links


Halych metropoly
at the
Encyclopedia of Ukraine The ''Encyclopedia of Ukraine'' ( uk, Енциклопедія українознавства, translit=Entsyklopediia ukrainoznavstva), published from 1984 to 2001, is a fundamental work of Ukrainian Studies. Development The work was crea ...

Halych metropoly
at the Handbook on history of Ukraine
Halych metropoly
at the Encyclopedia on history of Ukraine *Borutska, O.

'. vholos. December 13, 2013. {{Authority control 1303 establishments in Europe 1458 disestablishments in Europe History of Christianity in Ukraine Defunct dioceses of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople History of Volhynia