Rastislav of Prešov

Metropolitan Rastislav (secular name Ondrej Gont; born 25 January 1978) is a Slovak Eastern Orthodox Metropolitan bishop and the Primate of the Czech and Slovak Orthodox Church. His full title is His Beautitude Rastislav, Archbishop of Prešov, Metropolitan of the Czech Lands and Slovakia.

He finished his elementary eight-year school in 1992 and the grammar school in 1996 in his hometown. In 2002, he received his Master of Theology degree from the Orthodox Theological Faculty of Prešov University in Prešov. He defended his diploma thesis on "The Mystery of Death" (Slovak: Tajomstvo smrti).^[1]

During the 5th year of theology faculty he completed a four-month study stay at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in Greece. During his studies he stayed in the monastery of St. Thessalonians and entrusted to the spiritual care of Archimandrite Ireneos (Charalambakis). He spent two weeks in the monastery of St. Dionysius of Olympia and one week at the Mount Athos, where he visited several monasteries.^[1]

Prior to his graduation ceremonies, Metropolitan Nicholas (Kocvár) of the Czech lands and Slovakia tonsured him as a reader in the Chapel of St. Apostle and Evangelist John Theologian at the Orthodox Priest Seminary in Prešov. On 7 September 2003, metropolitan Nicholas consecrated him a deacon. On 21 September 2003, Archbishop Miron (Chodakowski) of Hajnówka ordained him a priest in the Cathedral Church of St. Prince Alexander Nevsky in Prešov.^[1]

In December 2003 he was appointed as spiritual administrator of the Children's Home of St. Nicholas in Medzilaborce. He worked in five separate educational groups with children from the earliest age until they left the Children's Home. He has worked with educators and teachers to apply basic Christian principles to children's lives. These were children who, in addition to social sanctions, also suffered mental disabilities. In the Children's Home he prepared two boys to study theology at the Orthodox Theological Faculty of the Prešov University. In 2008 he founded the Youth Choir of St. Apostle Andrew.^[1]

Since September 2007 he taught the religious education at the Secondary Professional School at the Reeducational Center of St. Nicholas for underage mothers with children in Medzilaborce. Teaching required a special approach because they were prescribed pupils in a re-education center due to educational problems and behavioral disorders combined with mental disability and underage pregnancy.^[1]

Since 2006 he completed three stays in the monastery of St. John of Russia in Pefkochori in Halkidiki, Greece. The advice and instructions of the local archimandrite Timotheus (Tsotras). In 2007 he visited the monastery of Wyszow in Poland. Igumen Paphnutius and monk Jerome acquainted him with the way of life in the monastery there. Between 2011 and 2012 he spent a month in the monastery of Archangels in Kovilj, Serbia. The spiritual advice and instructions of the Kovilj abbot bishop Porfirije Perić were decisive for him in the decision to accept monasticism.^[1] Today, Porfirije Perić is a head and Patriarch of Serbian Orthodox Church.

On 6 October 2012, at the Orthodox Monastery in Komárno bishop Tichon (Hollósy) of Komárno tonsured him monk with name Rastislav.^[1] In same month he was elevated to the rank of hegumen, and archimandrite.

The tenure of Metropolitan Rastislav, beginning on 11 January 2014, marks a distinct period in the contemporary history of the Orthodox Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia (OCCLS). His leadership has been defined by administrative stabilization, renewed international engagement, and the strengthening of pastoral and educational life within the church.

As Metropolitan, Rastislav oversaw the reorganization of internal church governance following years of institutional turbulence. His tenure included efforts to unify the Czech and Slovak eparchies, clarify synodal procedures, and reinforce the functioning of ecclesiastical structures. He supported the development of parish communities, the revitalization of monastic life, and the continued use of both Church Slavonic and local languages in liturgical practice.

Rastislav has also emphasized theological education, particularly through the Orthodox Theological Faculty of Prešov University, encouraging academic cooperation, clergy formation, and the publication of theological materials. His metropolitanate has maintained active participation in inter‑Orthodox dialogue and representation at international church gatherings.

During his tenure, the Orthodox Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia was removed from the World Council of Churches, a development that influenced the church’s international profile and ecumenical engagement. Rastislav is often described as a cautious anti-ecumenist.

In the broader Orthodox world, Metropolitan Rastislav is noted for maintaining good relations with the Russian Orthodox Church, while also preserving communion and cooperation with other autocephalous Orthodox churches.

Metropolitan Rastislav is openly supportive of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) and recognises them as canonical. He has condemned the persecution of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) and has given multiple of their clerics permission to serve in the lands of his Church.

Rastislav’s ecclesiastical career advanced significantly on 20 October 2012, when he was elected Archbishop of Prešov by the eparchial assembly of the Prešov Orthodox Eparchy. His proclamation took place on 17 November 2012, followed by his episcopal consecration and enthronement on 18 November in the Cathedral of St. Alexander Nevsky in Prešov.

In July 2013, he headed a delegation of the Orthodox Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia to the celebrations marking the 1025th anniversary of the Baptism of Rus’, an event attended by representatives of many Orthodox Churches.

A period of internal tension began on 9 December 2013, when Rastislav was appointed Metropolitan Administrator, replacing Archbishop Simeon. Simeon disputed the validity of this decision, and several Orthodox Churches initially shared his concerns. As a result, the Ecumenical Patriarchate temporarily declined to recognize Rastislav, and he was not invited to the Synaxis of the Heads of the Orthodox Churches during this period.

The controversy deepened after the church assembly of 11 January 2014, which elected Rastislav as Metropolitan. Questions were raised about the canonical legitimacy of the process, particularly regarding the status of Archbishop Jáchym of Prague, whose appointment had been contested. Because the metropolitan must be chosen from the Archbishops of Prague and Prešov, the disputed nature of Jáchym’s position led some Churches to view the election as irregular.

These issues were widely discussed in canonical analyses and academic commentary. During this time, recognition of Rastislav varied: some Churches, including the Russian Orthodox Church, the Orthodox Church in America, and the Patriarchate of Antioch, acknowledged him early on, while others withheld recognition pending clarification.

The situation changed decisively in 2016, when the Ecumenical Patriarchate formally recognized Metropolitan Rastislav as the legitimate primate of the Orthodox Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia. This recognition effectively ended the period of uncertainty and restored full communion and normal relations between the Church and the broader Orthodox world.

Since then, Metropolitan Rastislav has been widely accepted as the canonical head of his Church, and the earlier disputes have largely receded into the background as historical episodes within the Church’s contemporary development.