His Eminence Petru, Archbishop of Chișinău, Metropolitan of Bessarabia and Exarch of the Territories, celebrates his 79th birthday on Friday.
On this occasion, the Divine Liturgy and a Te Deum (service of thanksgiving) will be celebrated at the Metropolitan Chapel of Saint John the Theologian, located at the Metropolitan Residence in Chișinău.
Following the prayer service, clergy, officials, and the faithful will offer congratulatory messages.
Life and Ministry
Metropolitan Petru Păduraru was born on October 24, 1946, in Țiganca, Cahul County, Republic of Moldova. In 1968, after completing military service and being admitted to the Saint Andrew Theological Seminary in Odesa, he joined the Dormition of the Mother of God Monastery in Odesa.
He was tonsured a monk on March 29, 1969, ordained hierodeacon on December 29, 1970, at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Odesa, and hieromonk on February 23, 1973, at the Episcopal Cathedral of Uzhhorod.
Service Among Romanians in Transcarpathia
He later served as a parish priest in Romanian communities in Apșa de Mijloc, Apșa de Jos, and Valea Scradei (in the Transcarpathian region, Ukraine).
In 1975, he was transferred to the Ascension Monastery in Chumal’ovo, Ukraine, and in 1986, appointed hegumen (abbot) by the Bishop of Munkács.
Return to Bessarabia
He was elevated to the rank of archimandrite on December 3, 1989, during which period he returned to Bessarabia and served at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Chișinău.
On May 25, 1990, he was appointed abbot of Căpriana Monastery, and on July 20, 1990, he was elected Bishop of Bălți, being consecrated on September 1, 1990, at the Cathedral in Chișinău by hierarchs from both Russia and Romania.
Re-establishment of the Metropolis of Bessarabia
At the Founding Diocesan Assembly of the Metropolis of Bessarabia on September 14, 1992, he was elected Acting Metropolitan of Bessarabia, with headquarters in Chișinău.
During the same period, a delegation representing the clergy and laity of the Metropolis of Bessarabia visited the Patriarchate of Romania in Bucharest, requesting that the Romanian Orthodox Church exercise its canonical jurisdiction over the Church in Bessarabia.
On September 14, 1992, the Romanian Patriarchate issued the Patriarchal and Synodal Act recognising the reactivation of the Metropolis of Bessarabia, autonomous and following the old calendar, with its seat in Chișinău.
On September 21, 1992, His Grace Bishop Petru was received into full communion with the Romanian Orthodox Church and appointed Acting Metropolitan of Bessarabia, becoming a member of the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church on December 19, 1992.
Honoured by the Ecumenical Patriarchate
In 1993, he was decorated with a Medal of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, and on October 3, 1995, the Diocesan Assembly of the Metropolis of Bessarabia elected him Metropolitan of Bessarabia.
He was confirmed in this role by the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church on October 24, 1995, being granted the title Archbishop of Chișinău, Metropolitan of Bessarabia, and Exarch of the Lands.
Photo: Basilica.ro
