Eparchy of Kyiv (Orthodox Church of Ukraine)

The eparchy claims to trace its heritage to the original eparchy of "Kiev and all Rus'" that dates back to the establishment of the Old Russian (Ruthenian) Church under the jurisdiction of the [[Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople]]. The Ruthenian archdiocese of Kiev is first mentioned in 891, as the 60th by rank of honor in the list of departments subordinate to the Patriarch of Constantinople, and 61st in the charter of Emperor Leo (886-911). From its beginnings, the eparchy was the central or primatial diocese of the metropolis, which also included a number of other dioceses that were created after the baptism of [[Kievan Rus']] during the rule of Great Prince Vladimir in 988.

The eparchy claims to trace its heritage to the original eparchy of "Kiev and all Rus'" that dates back to the establishment of the Old Russian (Ruthenian) Church under the jurisdiction of the [[Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople]]. The Ruthenian archdiocese of Kiev is first mentioned in 891, as the 60th by rank of honor in the list of departments subordinate to the Patriarch of Constantinople, and 61st in the charter of Emperor Leo (886-911). From its beginnings, the eparchy was the central or primatial diocese of the metropolis, which also included a number of other dioceses that were created after the baptism of [[Kievan Rus']] during the rule of Great Prince Vladimir in 988.

In reality, the eparchy's history starts with the [[Metropolis of Kiev, Galicia and all Ruthenia]] which was erected in 1620 and was absorbed by Moscow in 1722, or, as the [[Russian Orthodox Church]] would have it, was "transferred" from the [[ecclesiastical jurisdiction]] of [[Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople]] to the [[Patriarchate of Moscow]].

In reality, the eparchy's history starts with the [[Metropolis of Kiev, Galicia and all Rus' (1620–1686)|Metropolis of Kiev, Galicia and all Ruthenia]] which was erected in 1620 and was absorbed by Moscow in 1722, or, as the [[Russian Orthodox Church]] would have it, was "transferred" from the [[ecclesiastical jurisdiction]] of [[Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople]] to the [[Patriarchate of Moscow]].

In the early 18th century, the metropolis was demoted to the rank of an archbishopric during the rule of Tsar [[Peter the Great|Peter I]]. This lasted until the middle of the century, when the decree of Empress Elizabeth Petrovna elevated it once again to the rank of metropolis. In the 17th and 18th centuries, the diocese of Kyiv consisted of two parts: one on either bank of the [[Dnieper]] River, each of which was subsequently ceded to the provinces of Chernihiv and Poltava.

In the early 18th century, the metropolis was demoted to the rank of an archbishopric during the rule of Tsar [[Peter the Great|Peter I]]. This lasted until the middle of the century, when the decree of Empress Elizabeth Petrovna elevated it once again to the rank of metropolis. In the 17th and 18th centuries, the diocese of Kyiv consisted of two parts: one on either bank of the [[Dnieper]] River, each of which was subsequently ceded to the provinces of Chernihiv and Poltava.