Bishop Andriy (Peshko)

Bishop Andriy (Peshko) (1972-____)

Andriy may be spelt Andrew, André, Andrei, Andrey, Andrij, Anders.

Bohdan may be spelt Bogdan (it has the same meaning as Theodore).

Early life of Bohdan Peshko

On 27 April, 1972, Bohdan Mikhailovich Peshko was born in Gryada, Zhovkivskyi County near Lviv, in Western Ukraine of the Ukrainian SSR within the USSR.

Bohdan Peshko was raised as an Orthodox Christian in that region.

In 1979, he entered primary school, and he received the Certificate of Secondary Education in 1989.

Higher education

In 1989, Bohdan entered the Saint Petersburg Theological Seminary, from which he graduated in 1993.

During the years 1994-1995, he undertook a year of graduate study at the Carpatho-Rusyn Christ the Saviour Seminary in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, USA, under the omophor of Metropolitan Nicholas (Smisko) of Amissos and the Carpatho-Rusyn Diocese.

It is not formally written anywhere, but it is likely that this year of post-graduate study came about through his having met Archbishop Vsevolod (Maidanski) on one of his frequent visits to Ukraine.

During the years 1995-1999, he completed the full course of theology at the Kyiv Theological Academy. In 1999, he received the Master of Theology Degree.

On 25 December, 2000, the Academic Council of the Kyiv Theological Academy awarded him the “Candidate of Theology” Degree, after the defence of his dissertation entitled : “Historical-Liturgical Research of the Rites of Installation and Ordination in the Orthodox Church”. This degree is equivalent to the Doctor of Theology degree given in the West.

Emigration to the USA ; diaconal ordination, 2001

In 2001, Bohdan returned to the USA.

There, on 8 April, 2001, he was ordained to the Holy Diaconate at Saint Volodymyr’s Cathedral in Chicago, Illinois, by Archbishop Vsevolod (Maidanski) of the Western Eparchy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA.

Diaconal service

In 2003, Deacon Bohdan Peshko was elevated to the dignity of protodeacon.

Monastic tonsure, 2004

Protodeacon Bohdan Peshko was tonsured to be a monk in 2004, and he was given the name Andriy (after the Holy Apostle Andrew, the First-called).

Monastic tonsure changed his diaconal status from protodeacon to archdeacon.

Presbyteral ordination, 2005

On 25 September, 2005, Archdeacon Andriy (Peshko) was ordained to the Holy Priesthood by Archbishop Vsevolod (Maidanski).

Hieromonk Andriy (Peshko) was elevated immediately by Archbishop Vsevolod to the dignity of igumen.

Episcopal nomination, 2005

Soon afterwards, the Ninth Sobor of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Diaspora nominated Igumen Andriy (Peshko) to become a bishop for the Eparchy of Western Europe, Australia and New Zealand. During this Sobor, Metropolitan Constantine (Buggan) of Irinoupolis, First Hierarch of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA and the Diaspora, elevated Igumen Andriy to the dignity of archimandrite at the Cathedral of the Transfiguration of our Lord in London, England.

In 2005, Patriarch Bartholomew I (Archondonis) of Constantinople and the Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate elected him to be a bishop for the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Europe and the Diaspora.

On 12 December, 2005, in Saint Volodymyr's Cathedral in Chicago, Bishop-elect Andriy (Peshko) made his Confession of Faith, and after this, his acceptance speech. Presiding over this service Metropolitan Constantine (Buggan) of Irinoupolis, and Metropolitan Nicholas (Smisko) (of the American Carpatho-Rusyn Orthodox Diocese) ; Archbishops Vsevolod (Maidanski) of Skopelos, Anthony (Scharba) of the Eastern Eparchy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA, Yurij (Kalistchuk) of the Eastern Eparchy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada, Job (Osacky) of The Orthodox Church in America’s Diocese of Chicago and the Midwest, and Archbishop Nicolae (Condrea) of the Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese of the Two Americas.

Episcopal ordination, 2005

On 13 December, 2005, Archimandrite Andriy was ordained to the Holy Episcopate at Saint Volodymyr’s Cathedral in Chicago, Illinois. Concelebrating were : Metropolitan Constantine (Buggan) of Irinoupolis, and Metropolitan Nicholas (Smisko) (of the American Carpatho-Rusyn Orthodox Diocese) ; Archbishops Vsevolod (Maidanski) of Skopelos, Anthony (Scharba) of the Eastern Eparchy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA, Yurij (Kalistchuk) of the Eastern Eparchy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada, Job (Osacky) of The Orthodox Church in America’s Diocese of Chicago and the Midwest, and Archbishop Nicolae (Condrea) of the Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese of the Two Americas. Serving with the bishops were Archpriest Bohdan Matwijczuk of London, England (Administrator of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Great Britain), and Priest Vitalij Derewianka of Belgium (representing the Orthodox Church in Western Europe).

Also present in the cathedral but not serving were the Greek Orthodox Metropolitan of Chicago, Metropolitan Iakovos (Garmatis) of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Chicago (who represented the Ecumenical Patriarchate) and Bishop Peter (Loukianoff) of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia. In addition, there were clergy from the Ukrainian Catholic Church.

After the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy, Metropolitan Constantine presented Bishop Andrey with the pastoral staff (crozier), and he said :

 The flock entrusted to you in Great Britain and Western Europe, a flock which is composed of sons and
 daughters of post-World War II and post-Soviet waves of immigration, awaits you and is hopeful that in 
 all things you will be a living icon of the Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ the Son of God, Who invites us 
 to personal holiness.  Be, for these people, a good shepherd, a living icon of Christ, a channel of Grace 
 and Truth.

Bishop Andriy (Peshko) of Krateia

Episcopal service

Bishop Andriy (Peshko) was given the title of Bishop of Krateia (as a Vicar-Bishop of the Ecumenical Throne), and as a Bishop for the Eparchy of Western Europe. At that time, his residence was in London, England, as was his cathedral.

Bishop Andriy served as an assistant to Metropolitan Constantine (Buggan) in the USA.

With the later addition of other responsibilities, he has retained the title of Krateia.

Bishop Andriy (Peshko)

Transfer to Canada, 2008

On 23 August, 2008, at an extraordinary council of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada (UOCC) in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, Bishop Andriy (Peshko) was elected (that is, nominated) to become Bishop of Saskatoon and Vicar-Bishop of the Central Eparchy. He would serve as an assistant to Metropolitan John (Stinka). The Central Eparchy includes the provinces of Manitoba and Saskatchewan.

On 1 February, 2011, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada also gave Bishop Andriy (Peshko) the responsibility to be the Acting-Bishop of the Eastern Eparchy of the UOCC. The Eastern Eparchy includes the provinces of Ontario and Québec.

In December, 2011, Metropolitan Yurij (Kalistchuk) proposed to change the title of the ruling bishop of the diocese from "Toronto and the Eastern Eparchy" (as it had been called previously) to "York and the Eastern Eparchy", and he left this matter to the discretion of the Synod of the Patriarchate of Constantinople. In 2021, the title was finally changed.

Along with the other bishops of the UOCC, Bishop Andriy (Peshko) is a member of the Permanent Conference of Ukrainian Orthodox Bishops outside Ukraine.

2015 Theophany Blessing of Water, Saint Volodymyr's Cathedral, Toronto

In 2015, Metropolitan Yurij (Kalistchuk), Bishop Ilarion (Rudnyk) and Bishop Andriy (Peshko) travelled with others to Istanbul to participate in a Synaxis of the Hierarchs of the Patriarchate of Constantinople.

In 2020-2021, the Covid-19 virus came to Canada. With it and its treatment as a pandemic came repeated and prolonged closures and/or limited permitted attendance in the Temples everywhere in Canada. The particular nature of these limitations depended on the regulations established by each province. Interprovincial travel was severely curtailed, and international travel became almost impossible.

On 19 May, 2021, the Patriarchate of Constantinople changed Bishop Andriy's title to "Bishop of Toronto and the Eastern Eparchy" of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada.

— Bishop of Krateia 2005-2008. Preceded by : Bishop Gerasimos (Michaleas). Succeeded by : ___.

— Bishop of the Eparchy of Great Britain and Western Europe 2005-2008. Preceded by : Archbishop John (Derewianka). Succeeded by : ____.

— Vicar-Bishop to Metropolitan Constantine (Buggan) 2005-2008.

— Vicar-Bishop of Saskatoon 2008-2021. Preceded by : Bishop Yurij (Kalistchuk). Succeeded by : ___.

— Acting-Bishop of the Eastern Eparchy of the UOCC 2011-2021. Preceded by : Archbishop Yurij (Kalistchuk). Succeeded by : ___.

— Bishop of Toronto and the Eastern Eparchy of the UOCC 2021-____. Preceded by : Archbishop Yurij (Kalistchuk). Succeeded by : ____.

Vladyka Andriy (Peshko)