Archbishop Kyrill (Yonchev)

Archbishop Kyrill (Yonchev) of Toledo and of Pittsburgh (1920-2007)

Kyrill may be spelt Kyrillos, Cyril, Cyrille.

Ilia may be spelt Elias, Elijah, Ilya.

Early life of Ilia Manchov Yonchev

On 26 February, 1920, Ilia Manchov Yonchev, the son of Mancho and Anna Yonchev, was born in Panagyuriste, in the Pazardzhik Province of the Kingdom of Bulgaria. He had a brother Stefan and a sister Ophelia.

Ilia and his siblings were descendants of an old Renaissance family from Panagyuriste, and they was born into an educated family. Their father had studied medicine and he worked for many years as a medical assistant in the city. Their mother worked as a teacher. The parents raised their children in the bosom of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church.

However, when Ilia was 10 years old, he, his brother and sister were orphaned. Despite the material difficulties they then endured, they managed to receive a satisfactory education in their home county.

Higher education

In 1934, Ilia passed the examinations, and with a scholarship from the Holy Synod of Bishops, he attended the Saint John of Rila Theological Seminary in Sofia, Bulgaria, and he graduated in 1940.

During the 6-year course, he drew the attention of his teachers with his love of knowledge and his zealous observance of Christian canons (this includes a way of life that is harmonious with the canons and with Orthodox tradition). This purposeful development of his personality led him to the decision to reject secular life and to devote himself entirely to God.

Monastic tonsure, 1941

On 19 January, 1941, Ilia was tonsured to be a monk, and he was given the name Kyrill, in honour of Saint Cyril the Philosopher of Thessaloniki.

Diaconal ordination, 1941

On 20 January, 1941, on the day after the monastic tonsure, the Monk Kyrill (Yonchev) was ordained to the Holy Diaconate.

Presbyteral ordination, 1943

In April, 1943, Hierodeacon Kyrill (Yonchev) was ordained to the Holy Priesthood.

Pastoral service and obediences

In 1944, the Hieromonk Kyrill (Yonchev) graduated from the Saint Clement of Ochrid School of Theology with high marks.

After this, the Hieromonk Kyrill was assigned to be an instructor of theology in the seminary in Plovdiv, Bulgaria.

Soon afterwards, he was assigned additionally to be the Abbot of the Monastery of the Mother of God “Petritzonitissa”, known as the Bachkovo Monastery. It is a very old, large and stavropegial monastery. It is situated 10 km (6 mi) south of Asenovgrad, about 190 km (119 mi) away from the capital city, Sofia.

At this time, he was elevated to the dignity of igumen.

Since he was the abbot, Father Kyrill was able to participate with other Bulgarian leaders in helping to protect the Jewish population of Bulgaria from actions of the Nazi occupation against the Jews during World War II. The time during the war and soon afterwards was a time of turmoil in Bulgaria. Father Kyrill became torn between his desire to help the patriarchate in his homeland, and the proposal of Archimandrite Evtimiy (Sapundzhiev) to continue his studies in Switzerland.

Further education ; exile, 1946

Following World War II, in 1946, Igumen Kyrill (Yonchev) undertook advanced studies in theology and philosophy in Bern, Switzerland.

His departure from Bulgaria came after the 1944 invasion of Bulgaria by the Soviet Union, the overthrow of the monarchy, and the official establishment in 1946 of the Communist People's Republic of Bulgaria. With this came also pressure against and persecution of the Orthodox Christian Church and other faiths.

For 4 years, Igumen Kyrill studied theology, philosophy, German philosophy and ancient languages at the Old Catholic University of Bern. During this time, Father Kyrill assiduously followed the life of the Church in his Motherland. He learned with horror that hundreds of his brothers (priests, monks, and seminarians) were being killed in Bulgaria without trial and conviction.

Move to the USA, 1950

Therefore in 1950, Igumen Kyrill (Yonchev) found it necessary to emigrate to the USA. There, he was accepted by Metropolitan Andrey (Petkov), who soon assigned him to be the Pastor of Saint George’s Bulgarian Orthodox Church in Toledo, Ohio. This parish was a part of the Bulgarian Eastern Diocese of North and South America and Australia, a diocese of the Bulgarian Patriarchate, which was led by Metropolitan Andrey (Petkov). Already, there was a substantial presence of Bulgarians who had begun to emigrate to the USA in the early 20th century. World War II and the arrival of the communists in Bulgaria increased the emigration. As a result of the change of government in Bulgaria, Metropolitan Andrey (Petkov) and this diocese severed ties with the Patriarchate of Bulgaria.

In a short period of time, Igumen Kyrill managed to revive the local dying cultural-religious life in the parish. His godliness, and the energy he devoted to the benefit of Orthodox families, did not go unnoticed.

On 6 December, 1959, Igumen Kyrill (Yonchev) was elevated to the dignity of archimandrite by Metropolitan Andrey (Petkov).

The next few years were characterised by relative calm in the religious life of the local communities that came after the constitution of the Bulgarian Diocese in America (Buffalo, 26 June, 1947), as a response to the establishment in that same year of the Dimitrov Communist Constitution in Bulgaria. However, this period of calm was very short. The constitution of the Bulgarian Diocese had interrupted all relations with the communist powers in Sofia, yet attempted to preserve the canonical ties with the Holy Synod. Such a predicament faced the Romanian Orthodox in North America at the same time. During these years, Metropolitan Andrey made unsuccessful attempts to unite this diocese to the “Russian Orthodox Greek Catholic Church in North America” (“Metropolia”).

Decisions under Bulgarian Communist influence affect Church life in North America

In 1962, the Communist rulers of Bulgaria decided to liquidate the independent Bulgarian Diocese. Under their decree, the Holy Synod sent Metropolitan Pimen (Enev) of Nevrokop to the USA. His task was to return the "misguided sheep to the flock". With regard to Metropolitan Andrey, they attempted to "buy" him. The communist powers in Sofia offered Vladyka Andrey to accept the position of head of the Bulgarian diocese in America. Metropolitan Pimen and Metropolitan Andrey made a joint tour of the Bulgarian Diocese parishes. As they did so, they produced anxiety amongst the parishioners, whom they asked to abandon Archimandrite Kyrill (Yonchev), since he was not a communist collaborator. With intrigues, the clergy were divided against one another, and there were threats of deposition of the priests if they were disobedient.

However, the majority of Bulgarians (especially those from Macedonia) met them with mistrust because they all insisted that the Church ought not to be involved in either direction with the political and national liberation struggles of the people.

In 1963, Archimandrite Kyrill (Yonchev) was assigned to serve as the administrator of the Bulgarian Diocese in America, and to assist the aged Metropolitan Andrey.

Also in 1963, Metropolitan Andrey petitioned the Holy Synod of the Church of Bulgaria for his return to the Bulgarian Episcopate, and he requested that he be able to continue to lead the diocese in North America. Metropolitan Andrey and his diocese were accepted back into the Church of Bulgaria.

Nevertheless, the Macedonian Patriotic Organisation and the priests united around Archimandrite Kyrill (Yonchev), and he convened a Clergy-Laity Conference on 25 March 1963. This assembly, together with Archimandrite Kyrill, separated from Metropolitan Andrey and his diocese.

This decision was motivated by the Metropolitan's having violated the decision of the Buffalo Sobor of 1947, and his own encyclical of 1948, in which he had declared that he would not obey orders from the communist government.

Move to the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia, 1964

Thus, this group which was unwilling to be directly associated with the communist government became associated with the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia (ROCOR) as the Bulgarian Diocese in Exile.

On 1 June, 1964, the ROCOR Synod approved a petition from the diocese to ordain Archimandrite Kyrill (Yonchev) to be a bishop in order to nurture the new Bulgarian parishes outside Bulgaria, not subordinate to the Bulgarian Church under the communist government.

Episcopal ordination, 1964

On 9 August, 1964, Archimandrite Kyrill (Yonchev) was ordained to the Holy Episcopate in Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, New York, with the participation of Metropolitan Philaret (Voznesensky), Archbishop Averky (Taushev), Archbishop John (Maximovitch) and 2 other bishops of the Russian Church Abroad.

Episcopal service

Bishop Kyrill (Yonchev) was assigned to be the Bishop of Toledo and Toronto (where his sister lived).

Later in the year, the Bulgarian Orthodox Diocese in Exile was formed, of which Bishop Kyrill (Yonchev) became the ruling bishop. The diocese included several parishes in Ontario, Canada, as well as many other parishes in the USA.

Bishop Kyrill, 1967

Vladyka Kyrill undertook a series of reforms in the spiritual life of the diocese. The first major undertaking was the drafting of a new statute, followed by the introduction of the Julian calendar (the Bulgarians used the Revised Julian Calendar) and the addition of the English language to worship.

Under his leadership, there began the publication of many Orthodox writings. The periodical editions of the diocese were set up : "Pastoral Voice" and later "Vestitel". "Dedo" (Grandfather) Vladyka Kyrill led an uncompromising struggle against the communist atheists in Sofia, with the Macedonian Orthodox Church inspired by Belgrade, and also with attempts by some Greek circles to denationalise the Bulgarian community of America. In the context of this concern, in entering the ROCOR with his diocese, "Dedo" Vladyka Kyrill did not fully integrate. This probably was because of attempting to maintain a Bulgarian identity within a primarily Russian environment. This fact ultimately led to difficulties, together with the fact that the introduction of the Julian Calendar was not progressing well.

Amongst the members of the Bulgarian Diocese was the family of the Priest George (Ph.D.) and Vera Nicoloff. They, a newly-ordained priest and his young "popadia" ("presbytera", priest's wife), had arrived in Detroit, Michigan, in 1935, to serve the parish of Saint Clement of Ohrid there. They both worked closely together with Bishop Kyrill in moving the Bulgarian Diocese into The Orthodox Church in America (OCA). The Protopresbyter George and Popadia Vera received from the Lord 4 children : Nicholas, (Deacon) Clement, Boris and Mary Ann. They have all remained committed and active Orthodox Christians with a missionary disposition and a strong propensity to Christian service.

On 27 October, 1976, by the decision of the ROCOR Bishops' Council, Bishop Kyrill (Yonchev) and the Bulgarian Diocese were expelled from the ROCOR because of the delay, or perhaps because of a direct refusal to transfer the parishes under his jurisdiction to the Julian calendar.

Move to The Orthodox Church in America (OCA), 1976

On 20 December, 1976, Bishop Kyrill (Yonchev) and the diocese were received by the Holy Synod of Bishops of The Orthodox Church in America (OCA).

On 25-28 October, 1977, the Fifth All American Council of the OCA took place in Montréal, Québec. This council was the first to be attended by Bishop Kyrill (Yonchev). The members of the council interpreted the integration of this diocese as another step towards unity amongst Orthodox Christians in North America, and they joyfully welcomed Bishop Kyrill and the representatives of his diocese.

Having accomplished that which his predecessor had not been able to do in the 1950s (for unexplained reasons), he established the Bulgarian Diocese within the framework of the Autocephalous Orthodox Church in America. Bishop Kyrill was officially assigned to be the ruling bishop of this Bulgarian diocese under the OCA.

On 25 October, 1977, his title was changed to be "Bishop of Toledo and the Bulgarian Diocese".

During the following years, the diocese extended its territorial scope. "Grandfather" Vladyka Kyrill (Yonchev) established new parish communities : Saint Patriarch Evtimii in New York ; Saint Kliment Ohridski in Los Angeles ; Saint John Rilski in Niagara Falls, Canada ; Saint John the Baptist in Los Angeles. Several existing communities passed to the diocese of Vladyka Kyrill : Saints Cyril and Methodius in Granite City, Illinois (the oldest Bulgarian parish) ; Saint Nicholas at Burton, Michigan ; and Saints Kyril and Methodius in Lorraine, Ohio. "Dedo" Vladyka Kyrill established the first Bulgarian parish in Washington, DC, the USA capital.

Later in October, 1977, Bishop Kyrill (Yonchev) was assigned to serve as the "locum tenens" and temporary administrator of the Diocese of Western Pennsylvania.

In 1978, Bishop Kyrill (Yonchev) was chosen to be the diocesan bishop of the Pittsburgh diocese and of Western Pennsylvania. He continued for the next 29 years in this capacity. At the same time, he also continued to lead the OCA’s Bulgarian Diocese.

In the context of this progress, there were critics who complained that by this time, there were only a few priests remaining who were actually Bulgarian by nationality. The majority were now of other nationalities, many of whom had been received into the Orthodox Church from other churches. They gladly served the parishes, and they helped them to prosper. Bishop Kyrill was concerned primarily that the Orthodox Christian Faith be nurtured in the parishioners of the communities that were under his omophor. He understood that Bulgarian nationality alone could not keep all the immigrants in the Orthodox Church. This was yet more the case regarding the children and grandchildren of these immigrants. Dedo Vladyka Kyrill was well-aware that in the Bulgarian parishes there were descendants of immigrants to North America who had begun to arrive as early as 1907. These persons were in need of services in the English language, for instance.

In 1986, Dedo Vladyka Kyrill (Yonchev) made a donation to Saint Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary in Crestwood, New York. In this donation, he established a fund for the purpose of supporting Orthodox theological education, and "and especially to aid those students preparing for the priesthood in the Orthodox Church in America". It is now known as the "The Archbishop Kyrill (Yonchev) Theological Scholarship Fund".

In 1990, after the fall of the communist government in Bulgaria, Archbishop Kyrill sent a letter of repentance to Patriarch Maxim (Minkov). He begged for forgiveness for everything.

Then, in 1992, Bishop Kyrill first visited his homeland since 1950. At that time, fraternal relations were established between him and Patriarch Maxim (Minkov) and the fulness of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church. This fact also improved the relationship between the Bulgarian Orthodox Church and The Orthodox Church in America.

In November, 1992, Bishop Kyrill (Yonchev) was elevated to the dignity of archbishop.

Bulgarian Church schism, 1992-1998

In 1992, Metropolitan Pimen (Enev) was amongst the initiators of the Bulgarian Church Schism. On 18 May, 1992, together with the Metropolitans Pancratiy (Donchev) of Stara Zagora, Kalinik (Aleksanderov) of Vraca, Stefan (Staykov) of Velikotarnov and Sofroniy (Stoychev) of Dorostol and Cherven signed an application supporting the decision of the Directorate of Religious Affairs about the illegitimacy of the election of Patriarch Maxim (Minkov) of Bulgaria in 1971. The Metropolitans declared that they considered Patriarch Maksim to be illegitimate, and they began a procedure for the election of a new patriarch. They chose Metropolitan Pimen (Enev) to be the Temporary President of the Holy Synod.

Thus, on 18 May, 1992, the so-called Alternative Synod was created, which included 5 of the 13 Metropolitans of the Church of Bulgaria. Five bishops constituted the schism.

On 1 July, 1996, in the Temple of Saint Paraskeva in the capital, Metropoiltan Pimen (Enev) was proclaimed to be an alternative patriarch.

Then, in 1998, the Pan-Orthodox Council in Sofia accepted "Patriarch" Pimen's repentance, and he was admitted to the Church meeting with the title "ex-Metropolitan of Nevrokop".

Repose, 2007

Archbishop Kyrill (Yonchev) reposed in Christ on 17 June, 2007, after a short period of failing health.

There were memorial services on 20 June and 21 June, including the Order for the Burial of a Hierarch.

The Hierarchical Memorial Divine Liturgy for the funeral was served on 22 June at Saint George's Cathedral in Rossford, Ohio.

After the completion of these services, his body was interred at the Holy Transfiguration Monastery in Ellwood City, Pennsylvania.

At the time of his repose, Archbishop Kyrill was the longest-serving Orthodox hierarch in the USA.

It is noteworthy that at the time of the repose of Archbishop Kyrill, the First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad, Metropolitan Laurus (Skurla), sent a letter of condolence to the Primate of the Orthodox Church in America, Metropolitan Herman (Swaiko) ; and that with the blessing of Metropolitan Laurus, Archpriest Seraphim Gan and Protodeacon Victor Lokhmatov attended the funeral and the interment of Archbishop Kyrill.

Grave-marker

— Bishop of Toledo and Toronto, Bulgarian Diocese in Exile (ROCOR) 1964-1976. Preceded by : Metropolitan Andrei (Petkov). Succeeded by : Metropolitan Michael (Donskoff).

— Bishop of Toledo and the Bulgarian Diocese (OCA) 1977-2007. Preceded by : See created. Succeeded by : Bishop Alexander (Golitzin).

— Bishop of Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania 1978-1992. Preceded by : Archbishop Theodosius (Lazor).

— Archbishop of Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania 1992-2007. Succeeded by : Bishop Melchisedek (Pleska).

Reflections

Archbishop Kyrill (Yonchev) was predeceased by his parents and by his brother, Stefan. He was survived by his sister, Ophelia Dinkov, and 2 nephews : Kyrill Yonchev and Michael Dinkov.

At the time of his repose, Archbishop Kyrill was the senior hierarch of the Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church in America. He had led the Pittsburgh archdiocese for 29 years, and the Bulgarian Diocese since 1959.

During his time of service at the head of the Pittsburgh Diocese and the Bulgarian Diocese, Archbishop Kyrill served as a member of the OCA’s Lesser Synod of Bishops, the Canonisation Commission, and the Board of Theological Education. He also served as a trustee of Saint Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary in New York. He was a member of the executive council of the Christian Associates of Southwestern Pennsylvania.

Archpriest Paul Ziatyk, the chancellor of the Pittsburgh archdiocese wrote that : “The clergy and faithful of both the Bulgarian Diocese and the Archdiocese of Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania have loved and respected him as their spiritual father. He has been a faithful example as an archpastor and true leader, exemplifying the virtues of humility, patience, and long-suffering. He will be greatly missed by his beloved people”.

Archbishop Kyrill was a straight-speaker, who clearly spoke his mind, and who was pastorally perceptive and sensitive. There was no doubt about his care for his people, and for the clergy under his omophor of care. He was practical, and he was also an active gardener who shared the products of his labours with others.

Priest R George York wrote of Vladyka that "He was a very kind and very personable man. He always tried to do the kindest thing".

References

Orthodoxwiki biography

Wikipedia biography

Russian Wikipedia biography

Audio biography

Dr. Georgi Genov biography of Archbishop Kyrill

Orthodox Research Institute biography

OCA In Memoriam : "His Eminence, Archbishop Kyrill of Pittsburgh, Western Pennsylvania, and the Bulgarian Diocese (June 17, 2007)"

Additional information :

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.

"The Archbishop Kyrill (Yonchev) Theological Scholarship Fund" at Saint Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary

Orthodoxresearchinstitute “Former Hierarchs of The Orthodox Church in America”

Bulgarian Diocese web-site

The Orthodox Church in America – the Bulgarian Diocese

Orthodoxwiki article about the Bulgarian Diocese of the OCA

Wikipedia article about the Bulgarian Diocese of the OCA

Orthodoxwiki article about the Church of Bulgaria

Wikipedia article about the Bulgarian Orthodox Church

Orthodoxwiki article about The Orthodox Church in America

Wikipedia article about The Orthodox Church in America

Orthodox History article "The Bulgarian Diocese in Exile"

St Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary article : "Archbishop Kyrill falls asleep in the Lord"