Kuliabka, Sylvestr

Kuliabka, Sylvestr [Кулябка, Сильвестр; Kuljabka, Syl’vestr] (secular name: Semen), b 1701 (1704 according to some sources) in Lubny, d 17 April 1761 in Saint Petersburg. Churchman and theologian. The son of a Cossack officer and grandson of Hetman Danylo Apostol, he graduated from the Kyivan Mohyla Academy in 1726. He was a professor (from 1727), prefect (1737–40), then rector (1740–5) of the academy before being appointed bishop of Kostroma (1745–50). As bishop he founded the first theological seminary in the eparchy. In 1750 he was appointed archbishop of Saint Petersburg and a member of the Holy Synod. An erudite scholar and sermonizer, he was known as aureus benedicendus magister. Thirteen of his popular sermons were published.

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