The newly elected Assistant Bishop of the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Australia and New Zealand was ordained on Saturday at the Patriarchal Cathedral in Bucharest.
The Divine Liturgy was celebrated by His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel of the Romanian Orthodox Church, together with Bishop Mihail of Australia and New Zealand, Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishops Varlaam of Ploiești and Paisie of Sinaia, and Assistant Bishop Timotei of Prahova of the Archdiocese of Bucharest.
The episcopal ordination took place during the Divine Liturgy. At the conclusion of the service, His Grace Bishop Iachint of the Pacific received the episcopal insignia from Patriarch Daniel.
Patriarchal act of confirmation
The Patriarchal Act of Confirmation was presented by Bishop Varlaam of Ploiești, who also serves as Secretary of the Holy Synod.
“From His Grace we expect, as provided by Apostolic Canon 34, respect and obedience toward his diocesan bishop, His Grace Bishop Mihail of the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Australia and New Zealand, toward the Patriarch of Romania, and toward the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church.”
The new bishop was urged “to work in communion with the other hierarchs and to fulfil responsibly the mission to which he has been called.”
He was further encouraged “to show love for the Church and the Romanian people, to defend and promote the values of the Orthodox Christian faith, to provide fatherly care for parishes and monasteries, to support Christian culture, and to safeguard the Church’s patrimony.”
He was also exhorted to devote particular care to the clergy and faithful entrusted to his pastoral ministry.
A word of gratitude
Bishop Iachint of the Pacific offered words of thanksgiving to God and to all those who had guided him throughout his vocation.
“Today I stand before the Holy Altar of the Patriarchal Cathedral under the protection of St. Demetrius the New, Saints Constantine and Helen, and St. Nectarios of Aegina, who have guided my steps since my seminary years—not to receive an honor, but to take upon myself the greater cross of ministry.”
“In the tradition of our Church, the episcopate is not understood as a call to power or privilege, but as a calling to perfect service, a descent in the likeness of Him who, though Lord of all, came not to be served but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many.”
He thanked Patriarch Daniel, his colleagues at the Chancellery of the Holy Synod, Archimandrite Nectarie Șofelea, Abbot of Radu Vodă Monastery, and all those who accompanied him throughout his academic formation.
Patriarch Daniel’s exhortation
At the end of the service, Patriarch Daniel addressed several pastoral exhortations to the newly consecrated bishop.
“To be a shepherd means to feed the flock. Christ’s words to the Holy Apostle Peter, ‘Feed My sheep,’ mean nourishing the faithful with the Word of God found in Holy Scripture, and especially in the Holy Gospel.”
He added:
“That is why, in the Greek and Romanian traditions, bishops wear on their mitres the icons of the four Evangelists. They must always keep before them the Lord’s word in the four Gospels and preach from the Gospel.”
The Patriarch also encouraged the new bishop to unite the preaching of the Gospel with the celebration of the Divine Liturgy.
“There is much work to be done because, as we have observed, many Romanians who have moved abroad—whether to Western Europe, America or Australia—attend church there more frequently than they did back home in Romania.”
“The church is often the place where they meet other Romanians. There they hear the Romanian language, participate in the services as they remember them from Romania, meet and get to know one another, and experience Romanian culture through our traditions inspired by the Christian faith, including Christmas carols and sacred hymns.”
His Grace Bishop Iachint of the Pacific was elected Assistant Bishop of the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Australia and New Zealand during the Holy Synod’s session on July 2, 2026.
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Photo: Basilica.ro / Raluca-Emanuela Ene
