Archbishop Dimitry (Magan)
Archbishop Dimitry (Magan) (1899-1969)
Dimitry may be spelt Dmitry, Dmitri, Demetrios, Dimitrios, Dumitru.
Eugene may be spelt Evgeny, Evgeniy, Evheniy.
Early life of Eugene Mitrofanovich Magan
On 25 June, 1899, Eugene Mitrofanovich Magan was born in the city of Chernigov (Chernihiv), in the Russian Empire (now Ukraine).
Eugene was raised within the bosom of the Russian Orthodox Church, and he received his primary and secondary education in Chernigov.
Higher education
Eugene then entered the Chernigov Theological Seminary, from which he graduated in 1917.
Chernigov Theological Seminary
In 1917, the Bolshevik Revolution occurred in Saint Petersburg. This was followed by the Russian Civil War which lasted until 1923.
During this time, Eugene found himself on territory that was joined to Poland. There, he joined the uncanonically proclaimed autocephalous Polish Orthodox Church.
Monastic tonsure ; ordinations, 1924
Then, in Grodno, on 17 June, 1924, at the bishop's domestic chapel, Eugene Mitrofanovich was tonsured to be a monk, by Bishop Alexei (Hromadsky) of Grodno, and he was given the name Dimitry.
Ordinations
On 22 June, 1924, Monk Dimitry (Magan) was ordained to the Holy Diaconate by Bishop Alexei (Hromadsky) of Grodno.
On 20 July, 1924, Hierodeacon Dimitry (Magan) was ordained to the Holy Priesthood by Bishop Alexei (Hromadsky) of Grodno.
Establishment of the Autonomous Ukrainian Orthodox Church, 1941
On 18 August, 1941, at the Pochaiv Lavra in Ukraine, a synod of Ukrainian bishops headed by Archbishop Alexei (Hromadsky) of Lutsk met and established the Autonomous Orthodox Church of Ukraine. This Church was accepted as belonging to the Church of Russia while having autonomous status.
Pochaiv Dormition Lavra
Pastoral service
Hieromonk Dimitry (Magan) served in Chełm (Kholm) (now in Poland) ; the Pochaiv Monastery in Western Ukraine ; and in Lithuania.
There, he was elevated to the dignity of archimandrite.
In 1935, Archimandrite Dimitry was assigned to serve as the abbot of the Zhirovitsy Monastery, near Grodno (Byelorus), where there is the Zhirovitsy icon of Mother of God .
Episcopal ordination, 1941
In 1941, Archimandrite Dimitry (Magan) was ordained to the Holy Episcopate in the Dormition Lavra in Pochaiv.
Episcopal Service
Bishop Dimitry (Magan) was assigned to serve as Bishop of Navagrudok (now in Byelorus), and as Vicar-Bishop of the Chernigov Diocese of the Autonomous Ukrainian Church under the Moscow Patriarchate.
He is also mentioned as having served as the Bishop of Uman, and Vicar-Bishop of the Kiev Diocese.
On 24 June, 1942, Bishop Dimitry was assigned to serve as Bishop of Ekaterinoslav (later Dnipropetrovsk) and Melitopol, also known as Bishop of Ekaterinoslav and Zaporozhia.
Holy Trinity Cathedral, Dnipropetrovsk
By the beginning of the Great Patriotic War in Dnepropetrovsk, not a single functioning Temple remained. In 1942, the Ukrainian Autonomous Church restored 10 parishes in Dnipropetrovsk, and 318 parishes throughout the diocese. During 1942, the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity of Dnipropetrovsk was being repaired. During the winter and spring of 1943, Bishop Dimitry (along with the flock entrusted to him) had to endure a very terrible period of life for the inhabitants of Dnipropetrovsk (because of the occupation and cold weather). Because of the dangerous situation, Vladyka Dimitry was very often perplexed about what would be the most correct and God-blessed advice to those who came to him.
On the Feast of Theophany in January, 1943, there gathered in Dnipropetrovsk about 60,000 believers to march in the procession to the Dnieper River.
The Synod of Bishops of the Autonomous Church in Ukraine elected Bishop Dimitry to serve as the Secretary of the Synod of Bishops and Chairman of the Holy Synod of Ukraine.
Then, from January, 1943, until his evacuation on 21 September, 1943, Bishop Dimitry served as the Bishop of the Donetsk diocese.
Exile, 1943
Bishop Dimitry was amongst the bishops who found themselves detached from their sees by the movement of armies and borders during World War II. As the Red Army approached, the German Army announced the evacuation of Dnipropetrovsk
Some bishops, such as Archbishop Panteleimon (Rudyk) of Kyiv moved into the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia (ROCOR) as they went away into exile in Poland and then in Germany.
In 1943, Bishop Dimitry retreated first to Slovakia. From there, he was removed to Munich in Germany, where he settled in a refugee (displaced persons’) camp in Great Schleissheim, near Munich in Bavaria. There, he often offered liturgical services in a Russian gymnasium chapel.
On 6 September, 1945, Bishop Dimitry and 5 other bishops of the Ukrainian Autonomous Church were admitted to the ROCOR. From 1945-1949, Vladyka Dimitry was part of the ROCOR.
On 27 December, 1945, the Synod of Bishops of the ROCOR assigned him to serve as the Bishop of Vienna and the Diocese of Austria (a vicariate of the Diocese of Germany).
During 7 to 10 May, 1946, he took part in the Synod of Bishops meeting of the ROCOR.
On 13 July, 1946, he retired due to illness. He moved to Germany, and until 1947, he was rector of the chapel at the camp for displaced persons in Schleissheim.
At that time, he often visited Metropolitan Panteleimon (Rozhovskiy) and Archbishop Benedict (Bobkovskiy), who also lived in barrack No. 114 of the Schleissheim camp.
From 10 June, 1947, until 1948, Bishop Dimitry served in Austria as Vicar-Bishop of the Diocese of Germany. He served in the French zone of occupation.
When the opportunity arose to leave for the USA, the ROCOR submitted to the authorities a list of bishops to be transported. This list included Vladyka Dimitry. Assistance for the move was provided by various organisations, but a request for help to the clergy was sent to the Russian committee, which was headed by Prince S S Beloselsky-Belozersky (founder of the Russian-American Union for the Protection and Assistance of Russians outside the USSR). He appealed to the Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Greek Catholic Church in North America (ROGCCNA) (the "Metropolia"). This list was considered by the local bishops, and the younger bishops (Bishops Seraphim (Ivanov), Dimitry (Magan) and 2 others) were called to North America, where it was intended that they be assigned to replace bishops who had become part of the Moscow Patriarchate's Russian Exarchate there.
Emigration to North America, 1948
In 1948, upon his arrival in the USA from Europe, Bishop Dimitry was received into the “Metropolia” (Russian Orthodox Greek Catholic Church in North America) by Metropolitan Theophilus (Pashkovsky).
Service in Canada, 1948
In 1948, he was assigned to serve as Bishop of Montréal and the Diocese of Canada.
In 1949, he was transferred again to the USA, and he was elevated to the dignity of archbishop.
On 10 May, 1949, Archbishop Dimitry (Magan) was assigned to serve as Archbishop of Boston, Massachusetts.
Archbishop Dimitry (Magan) of Boston
In 1950, Bishop Dimitry was one of the candidates to become Metropolitan of the Russian Orthodox Greek Catholic Church of North America, but Metropolitan Leonty (Turkevich) was chosen instead.
In 1954, he was assigned to serve as the Archbishop of Chicago and Minneapolis, although he never relocated to the Midwest.
In 1956, Archbishop Dimitry was assigned to serve as Archbishop of Philadelphia and Pennsylvania.
During this time, Archbishop Dimitry often visited the Parish of Saint Mary in Jackson, New Jersey, and he blessed the new rectory after the completion of its construction.
On Monday, 12 March, 1961, ground was officially broken for the construction of a new Christ the Saviour Temple in Paramus, as reported "The Herald-News" newspaper of Passaic, New Jersey, on 13 March, 1961.
Members of the Orthodox Christian Church of Christ The Saviour, Paramus and visiting officials look to the future and what the completed new church will be like for which ground was broken yesterday. Shown left to right are Peter Ruzila, building fund chairman ; Rev. Lucas Olchovy of Assumption of the Holy Virgin Parish, Clifton ; Rev. John Nehrebecki, new church pastor ; Archbishop Dimitry Magan of the Russian Orthodox Church of America ; Rev. John Sochka, St. John's Parish, Singae, and Theodore Horoschak, senior.
Ground-breaking for Christ the Saviour Orthodox Church, Paramus, 1961
In 1961, Archbishop Dimitry was assigned to serve as the Archbishop of Wilkes-Barre and Pennsylvania.
Retirement, 1963
In 1963, at his own request, Archbishop Dimitri (Magan) was retired from active episcopal service.
He lived in retirement at his residence in Rova Farms, Jackson, New Jersey.
Repose, 1969
On Tuesday, 1 April, 1969, Archbishop Dimitry (Magan) reposed in his residence at Rova Farms, Jackson, New Jersey.
On Wednesday, 2 April, 1969, his body was transferred to Holy Resurrection Cathedral in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. His body "lay in state" there, and at 7:00 p.m., a panikhida (memorial service) was offered in that Temple by Priests Vladimir Petorak and George Pawlush. Late in the evening, his body was transferred to Rova Farms.
On Friday, 4 April, 1969, in the evening, at Saint Barbara Chapel at Rova Farms, the Services for the Burial of a Hierarch was served for Vladyka Dimitry.
On Saturday, 5 April, 1969, at 11:00 a.m., the Memorial Divine Liturgy was served, which was followed by a Litya. Afterwards, his body was transferred to the Church of the Nativity of the Theotokos ("Saint Mary's") at Saint Vladimir’s Cemetery in Jackson Township. There, a panikhida was served in the Temple.
After the panikhida, the body of Archbishop Dimitry was interred at Saint Vladimir's Cemetery, on the left side of the Temple.
In this cemetery are interred many historical Russian-speaking personages of the 20th century in the USA.
Nativity of the Theotokos Temple, Saint Vladimir Cemetery, Jackson
— Bishop of Navagruvok 1941
— Vicar-Bishop of Chernigov Diocese
— Bishop of Ekaterinoslav (Dnipropetrovsk) and Melitopol, Ukraine 1942-1943. Preceded by : ___. Succeeded by : ___.
— Bishop of Donetsk 1943. Preceded by : ___. Succeeded by : ___.
— Bishop of Vienna and Austria. 1945-1948. Preceded by : ___. Succeeded by : ___.
— Vicar-Bishop of Berlin and Germany.
— Bishop of Montréal and Canada 1948-1949. Preceded by : Bishop Anthony (Tereshchenko). Succeeded by : Archbishop Nikon (de Grève) (as Bishop of Toronto and Canada).
— Archbishop of Boston 1949-1954. Preceded by : Archbishop Macarius (Ilyinsky). Succeeded by : Archbishop Dionysius (Diachenko).
— Archbishop of Chicago and Minneapolis 1954-1956. Preceded by : Archbishop Leonty (Turkevich). Succeeded by : Archbishop John (Garklavs).
— Archbishop of Philadelphia and Pennsylvania 1956-1961. Preceded by : Archbishop Nikon (de Grève). Succeeded by : Archbishop Kiprian (Borisevich).
— Archbishop of Wilkes Barre and Pennsylvania 1961-1963. Preceded by : ___. Succeeded by : ___.
— Former Archbishop of Wilkes Barre and Pennsylvania 1963-1969.
Reflections
G M Soldatov recalled Vladyka Dimitry's service in Ukraine during 1942-1943 :
The memory of my first visit to church in 1942 connects me with the deceased Vladyka Dimitri. He arrived in Dnipropetrovsk after ordination from the Pochaev Lavra. Vladyka began services and the organisation of the diocese from the Holy Trinity Cathedral, located in the city centre. After the beginning of the divine services, there were always many worshipers in the Cathedral, and numerous monks and nuns. I remember the joy people expressed that the monks and nuns had survived the Soviet persecution. I also remember that there were at least ten clergy in the cathedral, many of whom Vladyka almost always sent to different churches where there was a lack of clergy. The cathedral attracted many young people who stood for divine services for many hours. Vladyka showed particular attention to young people, but to his grief he was almost unable to help the starving and homeless. He knew that many of us did not have church knowledge, and therefore treated us lovingly with condescension. For example, when hundreds and thousands of believers approached the sacrament, he didn’t know whether all the young people had been to confession. However, he asked : 'Do you repent of all your sins?' With the answer 'Yes', he gave the sacrament. As I later learned from him, he believed that baptism in difficult conditions was received through the sacrament, and should subsequently be supplemented by immersion in water. It should be noted that this was a turbulent time in the city, and Vladyka had great missionary and organisational responsibilities. Vladyka ordained the clergy for the newly-opened churches that survived the Soviet pogrom, and he helped the families of the clergy who died in exile as best he could. Much that was happening, I did not understand then, and I learned from him only many years later, when I again met with Vladyka. [...] The winter and spring of 1943* were a terrible period of life for the inhabitants of Dnepropetrovsk. [...] Vladyka Dimitry often sat in the sacristy, lost in thought, sometimes clutching his head. Many people turned to him for advice on what to do, and as he later told me, he was in great difficulty, not knowing what to advise. As a clergyman, he could not bless people to kill the Germans, despite their callous attitude towards the civilian population. I know of one case when he saved German soldiers whom a woman was going to kill with poison, but under his influence she did not. Not knowing the future, he did not know whether to advise people to go west, or to stay in the city, and await the arrival of Soviet troops. Most of all, he was worried about the question of what to advise the clergy, who remembered the persecution of religion in the USSR. [...] It was often possible to see Vladyka accepting donations from people for the church, who, as he said, were in need themselves, but who shared their property to help restore the temples. With tears in his eyes, Vladyka blessed and kissed the heads of the old women, while reciting prayers. *At that time, besides a cold winter, there were many battles between the German and Soviet armies in Ukraine.
It is suggested that in the later years of his life, Vladyka Dimitry felt uncomfortable with the increasing use of the English language in services.
References
Russian Religious Persons Abroad
Orthodox Encyclopaedia biography
Additional information :
An obituary was published on 2 April, 1969, in the "Wilkes-Barre Times Leader, The Evening News".
Archdiocese of Canada — Orthodox Church in America, “The Orthodox Church in Canada : A Chronology” (Ottawa : Archdiocese of Canada, 1988).
Tarasar, Constance J, ed., "Orthodox America 1794-1976 : Development of The Orthodox Church in America" (Syosset, NY : The Orthodox Church in America Department of History and Archives, 1975). ASIN : B000ZLZAUE.
Russian Wikipedia article about the Chernigov Theological Seminary
Metropolitan Theophilus (Pashkovsky)
Metropolitan Leonty (Turkevich)
Metropolitan Alexei (Hromadsky)
Chernigov Theological Seminary
Nazi occupation of Ukraine in World War II
Oberschleißheim concentration camp in Munich, Germany
Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church
Orthodoxwiki article about the Pochaiv Lavra of the Dormition of the Theotokos
Orthodoxwiki article about the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia (ROCOR)
Orthodoxwiki article about the Church of Russia
Orthodoxwiki article about The Orthodox Church in America
Hierarchs of the OCA Diocese of the Midwest
Bishops of the Russian Metropolia in North America
Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia
Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church in Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania
Nativity of the Holy Virgin Church, Jackson, New Jersey
Saint Vladimir’s Russian Orthodox Cemetery, Jackson, New Jersey