Background
BONDAR, Leonid was born in 1913 in Merkino, Vilnius Oblast.
BONDAR, Leonid was born in 1913 in Merkino, Vilnius Oblast.
1935 graduated Vilnius Theol. Seminary; 1939 graduated Orthodox Theol. Faculty, Warsaw University.
1940-1942 novice, Vilnius Holy Ghost Monastery. 1943-1945 took monastic vows with name of Leontiy. Ordained priest-monk.
Served in parishes of Minsk and Molodechno Oblasts. 1946-1947 rector of theol. and pastoral courses, Minsk Theol. Seminary, Zhirovitsy Monastery, Belorussian Soviet Socialist Republic.
Elevated to prior; 1947-1949 officiated in Brest Oblast. 1949 inspector, Minsk Theol. Seminary; 1953-1955 elevated to archimandrite.
1956-1961 Bishop of Bobruysk and Vicar of Minsk Eparchy. Appointed Actg. Superior, Zhirovitsy Monastery. Visited Poland with Moscow Patriarchy delegate.