The Very Rev. Protosyncellus Ioan Meiu will become the new representative of the Romanian Patriarchate to the Holy Land, taking over the position from Archimandrite Teofil Anăstăsoaie, who was recently elected Assistant Bishop to the Archdiocese of Roman and Bacău.
According to a decision by the Standing Committee of the National Church Council, Fr. Ioan Meiu will formally assume the role starting July 15.
“It is a great honor for me to receive this appointment,” Fr. Ioan Meiu told Basilica.ro.
“I will continue to preserve the fraternal relationship between the Patriarchate of Jerusalem and the Romanian Patriarchate. With the help of our Lord Jesus Christ and the blessing of His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel, we aim to bring light and service to all three Romanian settlements in the Holy Land,” he added.
About Fr. Ioan Meiu
Fr. Ioan Meiu has served since December 2014 alongside Archim. Teofil Anăstăsoaie as ecclesiarch of the Romanian Settlement Church in Jerusalem.
Aged 46, he is originally from Brașov, Romania. He entered monastic life in 2008 at the “Saint John the Russian” Monastery in Giurgiu. Before being assigned to the Holy Land, he served at Darvari Skete in Bucharest and the Patriarchal Cathedral.
In Jerusalem, in addition to his liturgical duties, Fr. Meiu also served as the Chief Secretary of the Romanian Representation.
He holds higher education degrees in Orthodox Theology (2010) and Physical Education and Sports (2006), and earned a PhD in Theology from the Faculty of Theology in Craiova in 2021.
Earlier this week, Fr. Meiu met with Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem, who expressed hope that the excellent relationship between the two Patriarchates will continue.
Upon taking office, Fr. Meiu will also become the Superior of the Romanian Settlements in Jerusalem, Jericho, and the Jordan Valley.
Photo: Facebook / Părintele Ioan Meiu – Ierusalim
