For those that were at the Chapel’s Kolyada sing-a-long this past Sunday Jan. 7, 2024, Fr. Jaroslaw explained quickly about some of the коляди that are unique to Canada - in this case because they were written by His Eminence of blessed memory, Metropolitan Michael. And so, we would like to share a little bit more about him as excerpted from Orthodox Canada.

Early life of Theodot Nykyforovych Khoroshy

On 10 July, 1885, Theodot Nykyforovych Khoroshy was born in Fedorovka, 80 km from Chyhyryn (Chigirin), in Ukraine. At that time, it was in the Oleksandriya County of the Kherson province of the Russian Empire. Later, it was called "Protopopivska," but it was eventually de-registered. 

Theodot Nykyforovych was born into the Cossack family of Nikifor and Anastasia (born Mazur) Khoroshy. The parents were serious Orthodox Christians, as were their whole families. Thus, there were monks in their family who lived ascetically on Mount Athos. A nun of their family was a tutor and choir-conductor at the Chyhyryn Monastery. A grandmother of Theodot had also become a nun in the same monastery.

Theodot was thus raised within the Russian Orthodox Church at that time, and he began his early education in his village. During his formation, his favourite book was a twelve-volume collection of the Lives of Saints. 

During this time, he quickly learned how to read and write music, and he even began to write compositions on religious themes such as akathists. 

In 1905, after he had graduated from school in his native village, he organised a choir in the village of Nerubayka (now Novoarkhangelsk district of Kirovograd region).

Higher education

Later, Theodot entered the pædagogical seminary in the town of Shamivka in the Kherson province of Ukraine. 

In May, 1907, he passed the final exam at the teacher's seminary in the town of Shamivka in the Kherson province (now Znamyansky County of the Kirovohrad Oblast) [The opening of a "church-teacher school" in Shamivka, Alexandria County, was reported in the "Kherson Diocesan Gazette" in October, 1900.] 

He then became a singing teacher in the village of Sosnivka in the Kyiv province (now Oleksandrivsky County of the Kirovohrad Oblast). 

In 1909, during the summer, Theodot entered the courses for deacons for higher-level choir-conducting at Saint Michael's Golden-Domed Monastery in Kyiv.

Marriage, 1909

During the summer of 1909 Theodot Khoroshy was married to Christina Bevz in Kyiv. 

Further education and experience

In 1911, Theodot taught in Shpola (now in the Cherkasy Oblast), and during the following year, in the village of Vyshchi Vereshchaky, Chyhyryn County (now Oleksandrivsky district of Kirovohrad Oblast).

According to some, Theodot then studied at the Theological Seminary and the Faculty of History-Philology of the Imperial Saint Volodymyr University in Kyiv. 

Diaconal ordination, 1912

On 16 December, 1912, Theodot Khoroshy was ordained to the Holy Diaconate by Bishop Nikodim (Krotov) of Chigirin, a Vicar-Bishop of the Diocese of Kyiv.

Diaconal service

Deacon Theodot (Khoroshy) was assigned to serve in Kaniv in the Zaporozhskaya Sich. In 1915, Deacon Theodot entered the 5th year of the Kyiv Theological Seminary as an external student.

In 1917, he graduated from the Kyiv Theological Seminary. In 1917, he also graduated from the Kyiv People's University. According to Fedor Shepel, Theodot graduated from the Kyiv People's University in 1917 rather than from the Saint Volodymyr University. However, after the 1917 revolutions, the names of institutions and places became fluid for a time. Although it is not necessarily clear, according to others, "Kyiv People's University" was one of several names later given to the Imperial University of Saint Volodymyr. 

In 1917-1918, in particular, Deacon Theodot attended lectures entitled "Ukrainian Culture" by Professor Ivan Ohienko (the future Metropolitan Ilarion). After graduating the Kyiv People's University, Deacon Theodot combined his studies with diaconal service in Kyiv parishes. 

During the years of his studies, Deacon Theodot had managed to translate the Liturgical Psalter into Ukrainian. (It was published by the All-Ukrainian Orthodox Church Council in 1919.) 

Before World War I, there had been a movement which promoted the translation of liturgical and scriptural texts into Ukrainian and Russian. 

Revolutions of 1917

In February and October, 1917, there were 2 revolutions in the Russian Empire. The first brought the abdication of Tsar Nicholas II and the establishment of a Provisional Government. The second, the Bolshevik Revolution, brought the end of the Russian Empire and the beginning of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR). 

Theodot enthusiastically welcomed the liberation struggle of the Ukrainian people which was associated with the revolutions, and he worked vigourously in the realm of promoting its spiritual revival.

Presbyteral ordination, 1920

On 24 April, 1920, Deacon Theodot Khoroshy was ordained to the Holy Priesthood by Bishop Dimitriy (Verbitsky) of Uman.

Pastoral service

During the following months, the Priest Theodot Khoroshy served as the rector of a temple in Ternivka, near the town of Smila, in the Cherkasy province. It was not easy for him at a time when the ungodly power of the Soviet communists ruled. He repeatedly spoke out against atheists during public debates. 

In 1921, the Priest Theodot joined the non-canonical Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church (UAOC) that formed when Ukraine declared its independence during the Russian Civil War. 

In March, 1923, Father Theodot was assigned to serve as Dean of the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Virgin in Cherkasy. 

Afterwards, he became the chairman of the Cherkasy District Council of the newly-formed UAOC. This district was large, with 110 parishes.

For his dedicated and successful work for the UAOC, he was elevated to the dignity of archpriest, and he was awarded the right to wear a mitre during liturgical services.

Arrest and concentration camps, 1919-1937

However, the period of the Ukrainian National Revival did not last long. In the late 1920s, Ukrainisation was curtailed. The UAOC did not escape repression. Almost all her clergy were shot or sent to concentration camps. 

As the Bolshevik government continued its war against the Church, the communist authorities (GPU) arrested Father Theodot in March, 1929. He was interrogated until the end of April, 1930. The authorities demanded that he renounce his priesthood, for which he was promised freedom and various benefits. 

Father Feodot did not comply. On 30 April, 1930, he was condemned to 8 years in concentration camps in the far north of the Soviet Union: first on the Kola peninsula at the White Sea, then on Kond (the Gulag’s “Island of Death”), and a year later he was sent to Solovki. 

In the late autumn of 1932, he was transferred to the camps of Ukhta-Pechersk (a distance of 800 km/497 mi traversed on foot), and he arrived in December. He he did not die from exhaustion due to the fact that the camp doctor took him as his assistant, and he instructed him in pharmacy and patient care. 

Suffering of his wife and of his son

As for the wife of Father Theodot, Christina, in March, 1930, she attempted to save herself and her son Gregory by divorcing her husband. She lived in Leningrad. In 1943, she and her son appeared in Kirovograd, seriously ill and swollen from hunger. She had somehow managed to escape from besieged Leningrad and to arrive in Tashkent. From there, she left for occupied Kuban, and then from there to Ukraine. After this, with the displacement of Ukrainians into Germany, she and her son emigrated to Munich in Germany, where she reposed on 3 March, 1949. 

Release from exile, 1937; return to pastoral service

It is noteworthy that Father Theodot was released from his exile in 1937. The significance of this release lies in the fact that during the years 1937 and 1938, a very, very large number of bishops, priests, deacons, monks and nuns perished in the camps (mostly through being shot to death). 

Nevertheless, after his release, Father Theodot wandered for a time in the Donbas region. He then settled and established himself in Kirovohrad (formerly Yelisavetgrad), where he was taken to a place where many priests from Odessa had been settled. Once, when Father Theodot had gone to a neighboring village, all the priests were taken out of the city and they disappeared without a trace.

World War II, 1941

In the course of World War II (1939-1945), after the arrival of the Nazi German Army and the Nazi German occupation of Ukraine in 1941, the area gained relative religious freedom for a time, since the occupiers initially tolerated the revival of the Church for political reasons. 

During this time, Father Theodot participated in the organisation of a "Higher Church Government" (referring to the reconstruction of the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church/UAOC). 

At this time, Father Theodot was in Kirovohrad. He helped the Church. He organised and then led (as a dean) the Kirovograd Region. He became the rector of the UAOC parish in Kirovohrad which he founded (which operated in the so-called Greek Cathedral of Kirovohrad), The Communists had previously turned it into a granary. Soon, this "Sobor" could no longer accommodate all the Faithful. Believers turned to Father Theodot for help. He was often asked to send a priest to a new parish of the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church. 

When the question arose about the need for the appointment of new hierarchs for the revived UAOC, Father Fedot was one of the logical candidates.

Monastic tonsure, 1942

In March, 1942, at an assembly of clergy and parish representatives in Kirovograd, Mitred Archpriest Theodot Khoroshy was chosen to be a candidate for the Holy Episcopate. 

With the blessing of the Administrator of the Warsaw Metropolia in the freed Ukrainian lands, Archbishop Polikarp (Sikorski) tonsured Father Theodot to be a monk. He, himself, chose his new own name, Michael (after the Archangel Michael).

Episcopal ordination, 1942

On 12 May, 1942, with the blessing of Archbishop Polikarp (Sikorski), at Saint Andrew’s Cathedral in Kyiv, Hieromonk Michael (Khoroshy) was ordained to the Holy Episcopate by Archbishop Nikanor (Abramovich) of Kyiv and Chyhyryn, along with Bishop Igor (Guba) of Uman. 

All the 4 above-mentioned bishops were ordained in this same year in Kyiv. 

Episcopal service

Bishop Michael (Khoroshy) was assigned to be the Bishop of the Kirovograd Diocese. Under the attentive care of Bishop Michael, the Kirovograd Diocese developed and grew quickly. 

In November, 1942, Bishop Michael was elevated to the dignity of archbishop.

However, even during the German occupation, the Church was still under threat, and priests and bishops often suffered. 

When the German authorities began to intrude into Church matters, Vladyka Michael was transferred to the Mykolaiv (Nikolayev) Diocese. For some time, he also took care of Kyiv. 

Then the Nazis substantially changed their church policy, and they began to repress the Church, even to the extent of the execution of priests. Even under these difficult conditions, Bishop Michael did a considerable amount of work for the development of the Church. 

After the turning point in World War II and the apparent collapse of Nazi Germany, Archbishop Michael was forced to leave the diocese in November, 1943, and to emigrate westwards in November, 1944. He emigrated thus since he would inevitably face repression in Ukraine by the Soviet Communist authorities, probably execution, once they took power.

Displacement; exile, 1945

As the Soviet armies advanced westwards in 1945, Archbishop Michael (Khoroshy) became a refugee, and he travelled across Europe, through Odessa, Akerman in Bessarabia, Galicia, Warsaw, Slovakia, Vienna, and then to Germany. He moved to Germany along with the entire UAOC episcopate. 

In Germany, he experienced the destruction of Dresden on 14 February, 1945, during a bombing raid by Anglo-American aircraft and a terrible fire.

Nevertheless, in Germany, Vladyka Michael was able to continue his pastoral work for the Ukrainian Orthodox, particularly amongst the captives, expatriated workers, and refugees. 

After the war, Archbishop Michael took an active part in the organisation of the UAOC in exile. With the blessing of Metropolitan Polikarp (Sikorski), Archbishop Michael was given the responsibility of looking after the Ukrainian Orthodox flock in camps in Bavaria, with its headquarters in Munich (the Bavarian capital), which he did very fruitfully. 

From 1945, the city of Munich in Germany became the episcopal seat of Archbishop Michael (Khoroshy). Here, he worked energetically. He organised the Diocesan Office. He travelled around the parishes and in the camps of displaced persons. He sanctified newly-built Temples ; he ordained and cared for needy priests, and he encouraged teaching the Orthodox Christian Faith to children. 

He also organised the Church Administration of the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church. 

At the same time he worked as a professor and curator of the Theological Academy in Munich, which had been established with his active participation. He published the biweekly "Church Herald" ; he published a "Prayer Book", which became a table-book for the Orthodox family. 

In 1948, the Council of Bishops of the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church in exile assigned Bishop Michael to care for the spiritual nourishment of Ukrainian workers in Belgium. He also organised the life of the UAOC in Holland and Luxembourg. 

Transfer to Canada, 1951

Within a few years, and with Metropolitan Polikarp’s blessing, the Consistory of the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada (UGOCC) invited Archbishop Michael (Khoroshy) to become her ruling bishop. 

Thus, in February, 1951, he arrived in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada (the Church’s Headquarters). However, with the concurrent arrival in Canada of Metropolitan Ilarion (Ohienko), the UGOCC Consistory decided to install the senior bishop, Metropolitan Ilarion (Ohienko), as “Metropolitan of Winnipeg and the Central Diocese, Metropolitan of All Canada, and Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada”. Archbishop Michael was at that time named "Deputy Metropolitan". 

Archbishop of Toronto and Eastern Canada, 1951

After the enthronement of Metropolitan Ilarion (Ohienko), it was agreed that Archbishop Michael would go to Toronto, Ontario. Archbishop Michael arrived in Toronto on 15 August, 1951. It was a city without a bishop’s residence, chancellory offices, nor any sort of eparchial administration. Everything had to be built. 

A meeting in September of both priests and representatives of parishes called for an Ad-hoc Advisory Council to be formed. This council was dedicated to finding a building which would serve for the residence and chancellory. In order to secure the purchase of a residence, a collection was conducted throughout the parishes. 

The first Clergy Conference and first Eparchial Assembly took place on 7-8 December, 1951. On 9 December, 1951, Metropolitan Ilarion (Ohienko) led the service of the enthronement of Archbishop Michael (Khoroshy) in Saint Vladimir's Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral at 400, Bathurst Street, in Toronto. 

This recently-completed Temple then became the official cathedral of the Eastern Eparchy, and Vladyka Michael became the first Bishop of Toronto and the Eastern Eparchy. The Eastern Eparchy at that time consisted of 21 parishes and missions. The parishes of Eastern Canada were served by 17 priests, of which 8 were from the new immigration. 

Archbishop Michael was installed as “Archbishop of Toronto and the Eastern Diocese”. As the first bishop of Toronto, Archbishop Michael quickly set about organising and administering the life of the new diocese, through which he travelled frequently. Under his guidance, 19 new Temples were constructed. 

In February, 1952, the Eparchial Residence in Toronto was inaugurated. 

The Eparchial Assembly and clergy meetings under the leadership of Archbishop Michael (Khoroshy) contributed to the infusion of new immigrants into existing parish life, both in Toronto and elsewhere.

In 1953, Archbishop Michael, informing a meeting of the UGOCC Consistory about the growth of the Eastern Eparchy, highlighted the fact that the number of parishioners had significantly increased, particularly in the cities. In first place was Hamilton, where the parish had increased by 60% through new arrival membership.  Montréal, Toronto and other cities followed.

This trend continued, and in information given at the meeting of the UGOCC Consistory in 1954, Archbishop Michael reported that the Eparchy now had 22 parishes, 21 priests and 1 deacon. Ten parishes now also had residences for their priests. 

After this, despite various challenges and obstacles, new parishes regularly continued to appear. 

In 1957, the Toronto Cathedral Parish School alone was teaching more than 450 children. This exemplifies the new task which Archbishop Michael set for the Eastern Eparchy : the education of children and adults. He considered such education to be an essential element of parish life. The various brotherhoods which had been established in the eparchy, especially in the larger cities, engaged in cultural activities and the publication of religious materials. 

At the 12th Sobor of the UGOCC, in 1960, Archbishop Michael (Khoroshy) reported that the Eastern Eparchy had 26 parishes and 24 priests. From the time of the founding of the Eparchy, 9 years earlier, Eastern Canada had experienced the construction or purchase of 12 Temples, and 5 more Temples were in the process of being built. The period of construction of Temples and residences continued unabated. Most of the Temples of the Eastern Eparchy were constructed according to plans prepared by the architects Yuri Kodak and Gregory Khorosh, who also supervised the construction. Yuri Kodak himself designed the Temple of the Dormition of the Theotokos in Ottawa. 

In 1961, the Eastern Eparchy was subdivided into 4 missionary districts which were named for the main city : Toronto (Oshawa, Sudbury, Sault Sainte Marie); Hamilton (Saint Catharine's, Grimsby, Niagara Falls, Welland, Waterford, Brantford, Kitchener, London); Montréal (Lachine, Ottawa); Windsor (London, Sarnia, Chatham, Leamington). 

The following years under the leadership and personal involvement of Vladyka Michael focussed even more on Christian education at all levels. This included the development of parochial schools in order to accommodate the many children who were being taught the Orthodox Christian Faith and traditions. In addition to Christian education projects, various cultural groups were established. 

In 1970 (because Metropolitan Ilarion became ill), Archbishop Michael was named “Acting Primate” of the UGOCC.

Primate of the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada, 1973

After Metropolitan Ilarion reposed in 1972, Archbishop Michael was chosen to lead the Church. Vladyka Michael was installed as Metropolitan in 1973. 

Semi-retirement, 1975

However, during the 15th Sobor in 1975, Metropolitan Michael resigned as Primate, stating that he wished to remain as the head of the Eastern Diocese until his repose. All this time Metropolitan Michael retained the title “His Beatitude”. 

Repose, 1977

On 18 May, 1977, Metropolitan Michael reposed in Christ in Toronto, Ontario. 

On 1 June, 1977, at the Saint Volodymyr Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral on Bathurst Street in Toronto, Ontario, the Funeral Services for the Burial of a Hierarch were served for the newly-departed Metropolitan Michael (Khoroshy).

After the conclusion of the funeral obsequies, the body of Metropolitan Michael (Khoroshy) was interred in the Prospect Cemetery in Toronto (1450, Saint Clair Avenue West).

— Bishop of Kirovograd (UAOC) 1942-1945. Preceded by : ____. Succeeded by : ____. 

— Archbishop of Kirovograd. 

— Archbishop of Mykolaiv. 

— Archbishop of Munich (of Ukrainians in Bavaria (UAOC)) 1945-1950. 

— Archbishop of Toronto and the Eastern Diocese (UGOCC) 1951-1972 ; 1975-1977. Preceded by : Bishop Platon (Artemiuk). Succeeded by : Bishop Nicholas (Debryn).

— "Acting Primate of the UGOCC" 1970-1972. 

— Metropolitan of Winnipeg and Canada (UGOCC) 1973-1975. Preceded by : Metropolitan Ilarion (Ohienko). Succeeded by : Metropolitan Andrew (Metiuk). 

— Former Metropolitan of Winnipeg and Canada 1975-1977. 

Reflections

Metropolitan Michael always had a keen concern for the spiritual education of his faithful, and especially of the children. He wrote theological works, translated into Ukrainian the “Psalter”, the “Horologion” (the “Book of Hours”), and a number of other works. He also composed music for the services of Vespers, Matins, and the Divine Liturgy. He was a confessor of the Orthodox Faith and a zealous arch-pastor. He was known for his humility and zeal for the development of Church life. However, he was known most of all for his life of prayer. Many people who remember the spiritually uplifting experience of services presided over by Metropolitan Michael echo the words that Metropolitan Andrew (Metiuk) later said at his grave-side : “He was a great intercessor before our Lord God, and for his people and his Church”. 

During the 25 years of service of Vladyka Michael, 19 majestic and large "sobors" were built in eastern Canada. 

In 2020, Fedor Shepel wrote an article "Metropolitan Myhailo (Khoroshy) and Kirovohrad Region : What they have in common". In the introduction, he said : 

At one time in the book 'Nobody Wanted to Die or be Repressed : Yelisavet-Zinovievsk-Kirovo-Kirovograd' I had to mention the church figure Mikhail Khoroshy (Good) in connection with the biography of those executed in Kirovograd in 1944 by Soviet punitive authorities and rehabilitated as a 'victim of political repressions' in 1993 by the poet and priest Mykola Gagaliy. Later I read about Mykhailo (Khoroshy) in Volodymyr Bosk's 'Historical Calendar of Kirovohrad Region'. The local historian wrote about him in particular : 'In 1941-1943 he was the rector of the parish of the Greek Cathedral in occupied Kirovohrad, and from 12 May, 1942, he was the bishop of Yelisavetgrad. On 31 May, 1942, he offered a solemn service on the occasion of the 130th anniversary of the construction of the Greek Church. Therefore, it is not surprising that I was interested in the speech of Fr Yuriy Mytsyk, delivered by him not so long ago at the sixth interregional conference "Chyhyryn region in the history of Ukraine" and dedicated to the biography of Mykhailo (Khoroshy). I think the following excerpts from this speech will be useful to local historians and historians of our region.

Little has been written about Metropolitan Michael. Even in émigré literature. There is little information about him in the archives of the Consistory of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) in Canada (Winnipeg)'.

Mr Shepel supplied information in that article, many details of which are included in the biography. He also commented that :

We will add that according to materials of 'Kherson Diocesan Newsletter' where there was a speech about church elders and parish guardianships at Alexander Nevsky church of the village of Fedorivka (Efimove), since its construction in 1895, peasants with characteristic surnames are mentioned : Sila Mazur Khoroxhy ; Omelyan Mazur.

After his arrival in Canada in 1951, Vladyka Michael gained a reputation as a deeply religious, honest, loving, modest, merciful bishop, a zealous worshipper. 

Metropolitan Michael became a well-known theologian : author of a three-volume "World Epic" (in poetic form, he retold the history of the Old and New Testaments) ; "The Psalter" based on explanations of the Holy Fathers of the Church ; "Explanations of difficult Places in the Gospel of John" ; monograph "Spiritual World". However, in the memory of the Orthodox believers of Canada he is known primarily as a worshipper. As a composer, the bishop wrote : 5 concertos, "Vespers and Matins", "Holy Liturgy with 4 Cherubic Hymns", music for Taras Shevchenko's "Muse", and more. 

Awards

• Shevchenko Medal

• Medal of the Century of Canada

• Honourary Doctorate in Law from the Ukrainian Free University (UVU) in Munich 

• Honourary Doctorate in Theology from the College of Saint Andrew in Winnipeg, Manitoba

Writings

• "World Epic" (3 vols.) (in poetic form retold the history of the Old and New Testaments)

• Translation of the Psalter into Ukrainian (in the period before WW I) based on explanations of the Holy Fathers of the Church

• "Explanations of difficult Places in the Gospel of John"

• Monograph "Spiritual World" 

• As a composer, Metropolitan Michael wrote 5 concertos, "Evening and Matins”, “Holy Liturgy with four Cherubim”.

References

• Wikipedia biography

• Orthodoxwiki biography

• Ukrainian Wikipedia biography

• Ukrainian Wikipedia biography (in Ukrainian)