Background
Viktor Sabodan was born November 23, 1935 in a peasant family in Letychiv Raion of Vinnytsia Oblast (today - Khmelnytskyi Oblast).
Viktor Sabodan was born November 23, 1935 in a peasant family in Letychiv Raion of Vinnytsia Oblast (today - Khmelnytskyi Oblast).
In the late 1950s and early 1960s he studied at Odessa and later Leningrad Theological Seminary. In 1965 he completed the post-graduate course at the Moscow Theological Academy and was appointed Rector of the Odessa Theological Seminary and elevated to the rank of Archimandrite.
Metropolitan Volodymyr"s official title was: His Beatitude Vladimir, Metropolitan of Kiev and all Ukraine. In 1966 he was appointed Deputy Head of the Russian Orthodox Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem. In 1966 he was appointed Bishop of Zvenigorod.
His episcopal consecration was conferred on July 9, 1966 by Pimen I of Moscow in the Trinity Lavra of Saint Sergius.
In 1969 he was nominated Bishop of Chernihiv and temporary administrator of Sumy Diocese. On September 9, 1973 he was elevated to the rank of Archbishop of Moscow Diocese and Rector of the Moscow Theological Academy and Seminary.
On July 16, 1982 he was appointed to Rostov-on-Don Diocese and elevated to the rank of Metropolitan. Later than year he was enthroned as Metropolitan of Kiev and all Ukraine, replacing Metropolitan Filaret who was excommunicated for participating in schismatic activities.
Metropolitan Volodymyr enjoys singing and collects recordings of Ukrainian folk songs as well as stamps and postcards.
He has no objections to a good meal. In January 2008, Metropolitan Volodymyr performed the service of consecration of the altar and temple in Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. In 2011 he was awarded the title Hero of Ukraine.
He died on July 5, 2014 from internal bleeding at the age of 78.
Metropolitan Onuphrius was elected his successor on August 13, 2014.
From 1984 he was Patriarchal Exarch of Western Europe, and from 1987, a permanent member of the Holy Synod, Chancellor of Moscow Patriarchate.
