| Hryhory Yakhymovych | |
|---|---|
| Metropolitan of Lviv | |
| Church | Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church |
| Enthroned | 23 March 1860 |
| Reign ended | 29 April 1863 |
| Predecessor | Mykhajlo Levitsky |
| Successor | Spyrydon Lytvynovych |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 14 Sept 1816 (Priest) |
| Consecration | 21 Nov 1841 (Bishop) by Mykhajlo Levitsky |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 16 February 1792 Pidbirtsi, Pustomyty Raion |
| Died | 29 April 1863 (aged 71) Lviv |
Hryhory Yakhymovych (Ukrainian: Григорій Яхимович, Polish: Hryhorij Jachymowycz; 1792—1863) was the Metropolitan Archbishop of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church from 1860 until his death in 1863.
Hryhory Yakhymovych was born on 16 February 1792 in Pidbirtsi, in Pustomyty Raion, Ukraine. He studied at the Lviv school and he was ordained priest on 14 September 1816.[1] In 1818-1819 he served in the Greek Catholic parish of the St. Barbara in Wien while studying at the Institute of St. Augustine where he got a doctorate in theology, philosophy and liberal arts. Returned to Galicia, he worked in the University of Lviv where he headed the department of religion (from 1819), was professor of pedagogy (from 1825) and theology (from 1837). Soon after he was appointed Canon (1835), rector of the Lviv Theological Seminary (1837-1848). From 1860 to 1861 was rector of the University.
In July 1841 Hryhory Yakhymovych was appointed by Pope Gregory VI as auxiliary bishop of the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Lviv and consecrated a aishop on 21 November 1841 in Lviv by Metropolitan Mykhajlo Levitsky.[1] On 5 September 1848 he was appointed bishop of the Archeparchy of Przemyśl and there enthroned on 25 March 1849.[2]
During the revolution of 1848, he was the leader of the Supreme Ruthenian Council, which supported the Ukrainophile and pro-Hasburg positions of the Western Ukrainian Clergy.[3]
On 23 March 1860 he was enthroned Metropolitan of Lviv, i.e. the primate of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church. Hryhory Yakhymovych died unexpectedly on 29 April 1863[4] in Lviv.
Hryhory Yakhymovych became one of the leading figures of the Ukrainian national revival of the mid 19th century. He took part in the Synod of Russians scientists. He was vigilant in implementing the teaching of Ukrainian language in the schools and he required that the clergy to use such language in preaching sermons. As imperial adviser, he defended the rights of the Ukrainian population of Galicia, and he fought for the Ukrainian language, for the preservation of Cyrillic and of the Byzantine Rite. Because of his merits, he was awarded by the title of Baron.