Kirovograd diocese has a long and interesting history. Today it includes several deaneries and more than one hundred and fifty parishes. Since 2007, its full name has been the Kirovograd and Novomirgorod diocese. It is headed by Archbishop Joasaph (Guben). The main objects of the diocese are located in Kirovograd: the Cathedral in the name of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the monastery, which bears the name of the holy orthodox Elizabeth.
History of the diocese in the pre-Soviet period
Kirovograd was originally called Elisavetgrad. It was built by decree of Empress Catherine II in 1754. The nearby territory was then inhabited by people from the Balkan Peninsula, partly by Russian Old Believers, Ukrainians and Greeks. In 1756, all the parishes of Elisavetgrad became part of the Pereyaslav diocese, and about twenty years later, they became part of the newly formed Slovenian and Kherson diocese.
The history of a separate diocese dates back to 1880, when the Elisavetgrad vicariate was opened, Neofit (Nevodchikov) became its first bishop.
The fate of the vicariate in the yearsWorld War I is not known for certain. However, it is safe to assume that some of the temples were active.
Activities during the Soviet period
Unlike many other regional centers of the Ukrainian SSR, such as Nikolaev, Dnepropetrovsk, Cherkassy, Kherson, even after 1917, the activities of the church in Kirovograd never stopped. A bishop always served in the city, people visited churches, despite any prohibitions. Although it should be noted that many Elisavetgrad priests were killed, some of them were later canonized.
Elisavetgrad in the first decades of Bolshevism was renamed several times, then to Zinovievsk, then to Kirov, then, finally, to Kirovograd. Accordingly, the vicariate was called differently at different times: either Zinoviev, or Kirovograd.
In September 1944, after the liberation of the city, services were already held in the Cathedral by the priests of the Moscow Patriarchate. And in 1947, the Kirovograd diocese was already created, headed by Bishop Mikhail (Melnik). From the very beginning, it included deaneries and parishes of nearby villages and some cities, for example, Nikolaev and Chigirin. A rather noticeable page in the life of the diocese is connected with Bishop Sevastian (Pylipchuk), who headed the department for more than ten years, from 1977 to 1989.
Current State
After 1992, independent Nikolaev and Alexandria eparchies were separated from the diocese. Today, the Kirovograd diocese of the UOC (MP) unites many Orthodox believers inKropyvnytskyi, new churches are being built in the region, services are regularly held. Since 2011, it has been headed by Archbishop Ioasaf (Guben).
It can also be noted that several Orthodox festivals are held by the diocese. Kirovograd youth actively participates in these festivities, and this cannot but rejoice. The priests of the deaneries do not forget about urban and rural events, for example, in 2017, together with the residents of villages and towns, they congratulated veterans of the Great Patriotic War on Victory Day.
Main temples
The main temple of the diocese for many years, since 1944, is the Cathedral in the name of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It was built in 1812 on the site of a small wooden church. Its history is connected with many interesting and outstanding people. For example, the great commander Mikhail Kutuzov baptized his children in the cathedral, and his son Nikolai, who died at an early age from smallpox, is buried in the church cemetery. The rector of the cathedral is Archbishop Joasaph. During big holidays, many locals come there.
It should be noted another large church on the territory of the diocese - the Holy Transfiguration. Also in Kirovograd itself there are Holy Intercession, Holy Assumption and other churches.
Church life does not stop on the territory of the deaneries, in Novomyrgorod, Blagoveshchensk, Gayvoron, Novoarkhangelsk, Olshanka, Novoukrainka and other places.
Monastery
HolyThe Elisabeth Monastery is quite young. It was founded ten years ago - in 2007. The first building of the monastery was a former grocery store, but already in 2010, in the neighborhood, on a dedicated site, the construction of a monastery church began. Prior to its commissioning, divine services were and are held in the old premises daily.
It is noteworthy that the monastery has a shelter for former prisoners. There are three Sunday schools in which children from an early age get acquainted with the basics of Orthodoxy, learn how the diocese lives. The Kirovograd school bears the name of St. Luke of Crimea, in the village of Sozonovka - the name of Mary Magdalene, in the village of Oboznovka - Nicholas the Wonderworker.
The abbot of the monastery is Archimandrite Manuel (Zadnepryany).
Kirovograd diocese of the UOC (KP): history and relationship with the UOC (MP)
The Diocese of the Kyiv Patriarchate was founded in 1992. Today it has 10 deaneries and about seventy parishes and is called in a new way (after the renaming of the city) - the Kropyvnytskyi diocese. It is headed by Bishop Mark (Levkov).
It is worth noting that both dioceses often argue with each other in the region. Representatives of the Kyiv Patriarchate have repeatedly accused representatives of the Moscow Patriarchate of allegedly pursuing the Kremlin's policy, collaborating with "Kremlin agents." In turn, the clergy of the Moscow Patriarchate try not to participate in conflicts, but to engage exclusively in asceticactivity.
