The 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 is the Kirovograd and Novomirgorod Diocese. It is headed by Archbishop Joasaph (Guben). In Kirovograd, there are the main objects of the diocese: the Cathedral in the name of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the man’s monastery, which bears the name of the holy Orthodox Elizabeth.
The history of the diocese in the pre-Soviet period
Kirovograd was originally called Elisavetgrad. It was built by decree of Empress Catherine the Second in 1754, then the nearby territory was inhabited by immigrants from the Balkan Peninsula, partly Russian Old Believers, Ukrainians and Greeks. In 1756, all the parishes of Elisavetgrad became part of the Pereyaslav diocese, and after about twenty years into the newly formed Slovenian and Kherson diocese.
The history of a separate diocese dates back to 1880, when the Elisavetgrad Vicariate was opened, Neophytos (Nevodchikov) became its first bishop.
The fate of vicarism during the First World War is not well known. However, it can be safely assumed that some of the temples operated.
Activities in the Soviet period
Unlike many other regional centers of the Ukrainian SSR, for example Nikolaev, Dnepropetrovsk, Cherkassy, Kherson, and after 1917, the activities of the church in Kirovograd never stopped. A bishop always served in the city, people visited temples, despite any prohibitions. Although it should be noted that many Elizabethan priests were killed, some of them were later canonized.
In the first decades of Bolshevism, Elizavetgrad was renamed several times, then in Zinovievsk, then in Kirov, and finally, in Kirovograd. Accordingly, vicarism was called at different times in different ways: either Zinovievsky or Kirovograd.
In September 1944, after the liberation of the city, services were conducted by priests of the Moscow Patriarchate in the Cathedral. And in 1947 the Kirovograd Diocese was already created, it was 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 sufficiently noticeable page in the life of the diocese is connected with Bishop Sevastian (Pilipchuk), who headed the department for more than ten years, from 1977 to 1989.
Current state
After 1992, independent dioceses of Nikolaev and Alexandria were separated from the diocese. Today the Kirovograd Diocese of the UOC (MP) unites many Orthodox believers in Kropyvnytskyi, new churches are being built in the region, and divine services are regularly held. Since 2011, it has been led by Archbishop Joasaph (Guben).
It can also be noted that several Orthodox festivals are conducted by the diocese. Kirovograd youth actively participates in these festivities, and this is good news. The priests of the deaneries do not forget about urban and rural events, for example, in 2017, they, along with residents of villages and towns, congratulated veterans of the Great Patriotic War on Victory Day.
Main temples
The main church of the diocese for many years, since 1944, is considered 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. His story 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 of smallpox at an early age, was buried in the church cemetery. The rector of the cathedral is Archbishop Joasaph. During big holidays, many locals come there.
It should be noted that another large church in the diocese is Holy Transfiguration. Also in Kirovograd are St. Pokrovsky, Holy Assumption and other churches.
Church life does not stop on the territory of deaneries, in Novomirgorod, Blagoveshchensk, Gayvoron, Novoarkhangelsk, Olshanka, Novoukrainka and in other places.
Monastery
St. Elisabeth Monastery is quite young. It was founded ten years ago - in 2007. The first building of the monastery was the former grocery store, but already in 2010, in the neighborhood, on a dedicated site, the construction of the monastery church began. Before its commissioning, services were held 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 learn the basics of Orthodoxy, find out how the diocese lives. The Kirovograd school bears the name of St. Luke of Krymsky, in the village of Sozonovka - the name of Mary Magdalene, in the village of Oboznovka - Nikolai the Wonderworker.
The vicar of the monastery is Archimandrite Manuel (Zadnepryany).
Kirovograd diocese of the UOC (KP): history and relationship with the UOC (MP)
The Diocese of the Kiev Patriarchate was founded in 1992. Today it has 10 deaneries and about seventy parishes and is called in a new way (after renaming the city) - the Kropyvnytsky diocese. It is headed by Bishop Mark (Levkov).
It is worth noting that in the region both dioceses often argue with each other. Representatives of the Kiev Patriarchate repeatedly accused the representatives of the Moscow Patriarchate of allegedly pursuing Kremlin policies and cooperation with “Kremlin agents”. In turn, the clergy of the Moscow Patriarchate try not to participate in conflicts, but to engage exclusively in ascetic activities.