The Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church elected Bishop Antonie of Bălți on Thursday as Archbishop of Chișinău, Metropolitan of Bessarabia and Exarch of the Territories.
The decision was made during the Synod’s working session held under the chairmanship of Patriarch Daniel in the Patriarch Teoctist Aula Magna at the Patriarchal Palace in Bucharest.
Bishop Antonie was elected over Bishop Veniamin of Southern Bessarabia, who also stood as a candidate for the metropolitan see.
Brief biography
Bishop Antonie was born on May 29, 1963, in Hârbovăț, Anenii Noi District, in the Republic of Moldova. He graduated from the Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy in Chișinău before earning a degree from the “Dumitru Stăniloae” Orthodox Faculty of Theology in Iași, Romania.
Since 1995, he has carried out administrative, missionary, cultural and media work within the Metropolis of Bessarabia, playing an active role in the reorganisation and development of church life throughout the ecclesiastical province.
On May 22, 2014, at the proposal of Metropolitan Petru of Bessarabia, the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church elected him Assistant Bishop of the Archdiocese of Chișinău, with the titular see of Orhei.
He was consecrated as a bishop on May 24, 2014, during the Divine Liturgy at the Patriarchal Cathedral in Bucharest.
Four years later, on May 24, 2018, the Holy Synod elected him by secret ballot as Bishop of Bălți.
Photo: Basilica.ro / Mircea Florescu
