His Eminence Metropolitan Antonie of Bessarabia was enthroned on Sunday, July 12, in Chișinău in the presence of several hierarchs of the Romanian Orthodox Church, Romanian Secretary of State for Religious Affairs Ciprian Olinici, and senior officials from the Republic of Moldova, who attended the Divine Liturgy and enthronement ceremony held at the Church of the Holy Three Hierarchs and the Life-Giving Spring.
The service was presided over by Metropolitan Teofan of Moldavia and Bukovina. Concelebrating were Archbishop Casian of Lower Danube, Archbishop Atanasie of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Bishop Ignatie of Huși, Bishop Veniamin of Southern Bessarabia, as well as Assistant Bishop Nichifor of Botoșani of the Archdiocese of Iași, Assistant Bishop Nectarie of Bogdania of the Archdiocese of Chișinău, and Assistant Bishop Teofil of Trotuș of the Archdiocese of Roman and Bacău.
After Archbishop Casian read the Patriarchal Gramata, Metropolitan Teofan, acting as the representative of Patriarch Daniel, presented the new Metropolitan of Bessarabia with the mantle, pectoral cross, engolpion, black kamilavka bearing a cross, and episcopal staff—the insignia of the metropolitan rank. On behalf of the Patriarch of Romania, the new metropolitan also received a blessing cross as a gift.
“He is not alone in the ministry before him”
“His Eminence Metropolitan Antonie is not alone in the ministry that lies before him. Christ the Lord, His Most Holy Mother—the Protectress of the city of Chișinău—the Romanian saints of Bessarabia Joseph, Heraclius, Dionysius, Alexander, Blandina, Sofian, and many others known only to God are with him,” Metropolitan Teofan said.
“The priests and faithful of the parishes await him with great hope. The small monastic community of the eparchy seeks encouragement, support, and growth. Many scholars, members of the Academy, university professors and public officials in various fields stand ready to cooperate.”
“The sister Metropolis of Iași, many dioceses and institutions in Romania, and above all the Romanian Patriarchate regard the Metropolis of Bessarabia as part of the same endeavour of drawing closer together and working jointly for the good of the Romanian people on both banks of the River Prut,” Metropolitan Teofan added.
Fr Andrei Bucliș, diocesan secretary, then conveyed the message of the clergy and faithful of the Metropolis.
“We welcome Your Eminence with open hearts and with the hope that the activity of our Metropolis will continue to grow. We trust that, through the common efforts of Your Eminence, the diocesan administration, the clergy and the faithful, we shall witness and experience uninterrupted flourishing in every aspect of the Metropolis of Bessarabia, which has endured so many hardships throughout history.”
A call to work together
“I understand the great responsibility that now rests upon me. This is a new beginning. The challenges will be different. It is clear that I will not succeed on my own,” the new Metropolitan of Bessarabia said.
He called upon members of the diocesan administration, clergy and faithful alike to work together:
“All of us—clergy and faithful alike—share the same mission: the growth and flourishing of the Metropolis of Bessarabia.”
“It depends on us whether we demonstrate that we have fulfilled our duty,” Metropolitan Antonie added. “To our effort and our repentance, God responds by sending His grace, which always heals what is infirm and completes what is lacking, as we read in one of the prayers from the Mystery of Holy Priesthood.”
Metropolitan Antonie also underlined the importance of national identity, quoting St Dumitru Stăniloae, who described national identity as “humanity itself expressed in a particular form”, and the Bessarabian priest Alexei Mateevici, who wrote:
“We are Moldovans, the sons of ancient Moldavia, yet we belong to the great body of the Romanian people established throughout Romania, Bukovina and Transylvania. Our brothers in Bukovina, Transylvania and Macedonia do not call themselves after the places where they live, but Romanians. We should do the same.”
Gratitude to mentors and parents
Metropolitan Antonie began his address by recalling his search for meaning during his years at the Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy in Chișinău, a journey that eventually led him to study at the Faculty of Orthodox Theology in Iași.
In this context, he highlighted the decisive role that Patriarch Daniel played in his theological and spiritual formation during the years when the current Patriarch of Romania served as Metropolitan of Moldavia and Bukovina and taught at the Faculty of Theology in Iași.
Towards the conclusion of his address, Metropolitan Antonie expressed gratitude to his parents and paid special tribute to his mother, Feodora:
“Although my mother could neither read nor write, she was my first teacher. The first lessons I received from her were faith in God, kindness and respect for other people. She taught me how to pray, and she was the first person to take me to church.”
He also thanked the institutions in both Romania and the Republic of Moldova that have supported and cooperated with the Metropolis of Bessarabia over the years, expressing his readiness to continue working with all those committed to strengthening Romanian identity and the Orthodox faith.
Metropolitan Antonie served as Bishop of Bălți from 24 May 2018 until 2 July 2026, when he was elected Metropolitan of Bessarabia.
Photo: Diaconia Social Mission / Ionela Donos
