Archimandrite Smaragd (Petrenko)
Archimandrite Smaragd was born on 11.07.1974 in Sumy. Since 1982 to 1992 years he studied at Sumy school № 6.
In 1992, he entered to the Sumy Agricultural Institute (now Sumy National Agrarian University) at the Faculty of Economics, from which he graduated in 1997 in the field of "organization of foreign economic relations." That year he became a parishioner Peter and Paul Church in Sumy. From 1998 to 1999, he carried the sexton obedience in the church of St. Georgiy Pobedonosets in Stepanovka, Sumy region. From 1999 to 2000, he carried sexton obedience in the school's church of St. Simeon the New Theologian and Ioahn of Kronstadt.
In September 2000, he entered to the Sumy Pastoral Theological Seminary. On March 25, 2001 on the feast day of St. Ioahn Lestvechnick and St. Symeon the New Theologian on cheirothesia a reader and sub-deacon was ordained to the diaconate by Bishop of Sumy and Akhtyrka Iov (Smakouz).
March 21, 2002 by Bishop Iov was tonsured a rassophore with Smaragd given a name in honor of the holy martyr Smaragd among the Forty Martyrs of Sebaste. On March 31 that year, Bishop Iov was ordained a priest, and with his blessing on May 28 was sent to Akhtyrka revive monastic life in the destroyed to Monastery of Holy Trinity.
On October 18, 2005 Archbishop Mark (Petrovtsiy) was released from obedience to the priest of the monastic community of Monastery of the Holy Trinity in Akhtyka and was appointed caretaker of St. Nicholas Bishop monastery in Miropolie. On May 11, 2006 he appointed rector of Holy Transfiguration in house of worship in Ryasnoe, St. Dimitriy women monastery and the Peter and Paul community in Grabovskoe, Krasnopolye district.
By the day of Easter 2008 Bishop Ilariy (Shishkov) was elevated to the rank of abbot. In that year, Bishop Ilariy was tonsured to the mantle without changing the name.
June 16, 2009. with the blessing of the Bishop of Sumy and Akhtyrka Evlogii he was appointed professor of English of Sumy Pastoral Theological School and a cleric of Holy Transfiguration Sumy Cathedral, where he headed the service of catechesis and parish counseling. October 19, 2010 was appointed head of the Sunday school at the Sumy Holy Transfiguration Cathedral.
April 18, 2011 he was appointed vicar of St. Nicholas Bishop Monastery.
In 2011 he was elected as a delegate from the Diocese of Sumy monks to participate in the Council of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.
Since 2011 - the teacher of Canon Law in Sumy Pastoral Theological School.
January 25, 2012 was appointed abbot of a resurgent St. Dimitry monastic community.
March 21, 2012 the day of the Kursk Icon of the Mother of God "Znameniy" Bishop of Sumy and Akhtyrka Evlogii was elevated to the rank of Archimandrite.
He teaches Canon Law (2nd year).