Kopystensky, Mykhail

Kopystensky, Mykhail [Копистенський, Михаїл; Kopystens'kyj, Myxajil; secular name: Матей; Matei], ?–1610. Orthodox bishop. A member of the Peremyshl aristocracy, he became the bishop of Peremyshl eparchy in 1591. In 1596 he refused to support the Church Union of Berestia and remained Orthodox. He continued consecrating priests for other Orthodox eparchies and defending Orthodox interests. In 1606 he addressed a letter to a congress of Orthodox nobles in Lublin who opposed the Church Union, in which he described the persecution of Orthodox faithful. After his death, the Ukrainian Orthodox church was left with only one bishop.

[This article originally appeared in the Encyclopedia of Ukraine, vol. 2 (1988).]