Metropolitan Lazar (Shvets) passed away at the 87th year of his life

On the morning of January 17, 2026, Metropolitan Lazar of Simferopol and Crimea (Rostislav Pilipovich Shvets), a long-time archpastor of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, passed away at the age of 87. Vladyka Lazar left a significant trace in the history of the Church with his many years of service. This is reported by the Press Service of the UOC.

The future hierarch was born on April 22, 1939 in a peasant family in the village of Komarin, Kremenets district, Ternopil region. After graduating from school, he served in the Holy Dukhov Skete of the Holy Dormition Pochaev Lavra, and then — in the Assumption Zhirovitsky Monastery of the Minsk diocese. In 1957 he entered the Minsk Theological Seminary. In 1964 he graduated from the Odessa Theological Seminary, and in 1968 from the Leningrad Theological Academy, where he received the degree of Candidate of Theology.

on March 5, 1972 Metropolitan Lazar was consecrated to the rank of deacon, and on March 12 of the same year — to the rank of priest. He began his pastoral ministry in the Vladimir Cathedral in Kiev. In 1975 he was sent to the Diocese of Argentina, where he also served as Secretary to the Archbishop of Argentina and South America. In 1978 he was elevated to the rank of archpriest.

on April 1, 1980 he took monastic tonsure, and on April 7 he was elevated to the rank of archimandrite. on April 18, 1980, he was consecrated a bishop with the appointment to the Argentine and South American cathedra and to the position of Patriarchal Exarch of Central and South America. In 1985 he was elevated to the rank of Archbishop. In different years Vladyka Lazar headed the Ivano-Frankivsk, Ternopil and Kremenets, Odessa and Izmail, Odessa and Kherson dioceses.

Since 1992 Vladyka Lazar served as Archbishop and then Metropolitan of Simferopol and Crimea. In 2000 he was elevated to the rank of Metropolitan. For his services, Metropolitan Lazar was awarded the Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise, IV degree.

May the Merciful Lord rest the soul of His departed archpastor in the abodes of the righteous.