Yov Boretsky

Yov Boretsky (Ukrainian: Іов Борецький); (unknown, Bircza – 2 March, 1631, Kiev) was a Ukrainian Orthodox metropolitan (official title - Metropolitan of Kiev, Halychyna and All-Rus').

He was known as an outstanding church leader and educator, defender of the Orthodox faith and the Orthodox metropolitan of Kiev (1620–31).

His family came from Bircha (Bircza) in Galicia. He was educated at the Lviv Dormition Brotherhood School and abroad. He worked as a teacher and rector at the Lviv Dormition Brotherhood School (1604–5) and was the first rector of the Kiev Epiphany Brotherhood School (1615–18). In 1619 he became hegumen of St. Michael's Golden-Domed Monastery of Kiev.

In August 1620 the patriarch of Jerusalem, Theophanes III, ordained Boretsky metropolitan of Kiev, Galychyna and All-Rus'. Boretsky had a strong influence on the Cossacks under Petro Konashevych-Sahaidachny's hetmancy. As metropolitan Boretsky composed a petition in defense of the Orthodox hierarchy entitled Protestacja (1621). Along with the Uniate metropolitan Yosyf Rutsky, he favored a general reconciliation within the Ukrainian church, but failed to gain the support of the Cossacks for his plans. A prolific translator, Boretsky also wrote poems honoring saints, petitions, prefaces, and edicts. Perestoroha is attributed to him. He was the coauthor of Apolleia Apolohii (A Refutation of 'A Defense,' 1628) and the translator of Antolohion from the Greek (1619).

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Preceded by
Michael Rogoza
Metropolitan of Kiev, Galychyna and All-Rus'
1620–1631
Succeeded by
Isaia Kopynsky