Sylvester (Malevansky)

Hierarch Sylvester Malevansky (in the world Stefan Vasilievich, 1828-1908) was bishop of Kaniv, vicar of the Kyiv metropolis, rector of the Kyiv Theological Academy and a dogmatic theologian. He was glorified locally in the Kyiv diocese by decision of the Synod of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of 3 April 2019, with entry in the Synaxis of the Saints of the Kyiv Theological Academy; he is commemorated on 12 November.

He was born on 10 (22) January 1828 in the village of Andrushivka, Zhytomyr district, Volhynia province, into a priest's family. He graduated from the Volhynia seminary in 1847 and on 7 December 1848 was ordained priest at the Holy Cross church in Chervone. In 1853 he was widowed and entered the Kyiv Theological Academy, which he finished in 1857. He was tonsured a monk on 26 May 1858 and on 24 December 1858 received the master's degree and was made bachelor of the Academy. On 15 April 1873 he was raised to archimandrite and appointed inspector and professor; he later received the doctorate in theology. From 1882 he was emeritus ordinary professor, and from 11 April 1883 rector of the Academy and abbot of the Kyiv Brotherhood Monastery.

On 20 January 1885 he was consecrated bishop of Kaniv, vicar of the Kyiv metropolis. From 1886 he was an honorary member of the four theological academies and of many scholarly and charitable institutions. On 5 March 1898 he left the office of rector, remaining first vicar of the metropolis and keeping the direction of Saint Nicholas Monastery at Pustynka. Between 7 June and 13 August 1900 he temporarily governed the Kyiv diocese. On 14 April 1906 he was retired. He lived in the metropolitan's cells of the Saint Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv and there fell asleep in the night of 12 November 1908, having gone blind shortly before.

He was an eminent dogmatic theologian, firm of character and at the same time very kind, hardworking and as strict with himself as a great ascetic. His chief work is "An Essay in Orthodox Dogmatic Theology with a Historical Exposition of the Dogmas," in five volumes (1878-1889); he also wrote on rationalism, on the Church in the first three centuries, and on pantheism, and in 1874-1875 answered the schemes of the Old Catholics. A Japanese student, Simeon Mii, was astonished at his memory, for he gave lectures and served the services from memory. Blind, he went on working with the help of those near him on dogmatic theology. He served with fervour and reverence and gave his savings to the poor, who filled the courts of the Kyiv monasteries on the first day of every month. He left almost nothing at his death; his savings and pensions were used for his burial and memorial, and the rest went to the poor and to charitable institutions.

He was buried in Kyiv, in the crypt of the church of Saint Nicholas at Askold's Grave, or according to other sources in the cemetery of the Brotherhood Monastery. On 3 April 2019 the Synod glorified him as a locally venerated hierarch, and on 28 July 2019 Metropolitan Onuphry served the rite of glorification before the Dormition Cathedral of the Caves Lavra, on the day of commemoration of Saint Vladimir.