His Grace Bishop Mihail of Australia and New Zealand introduced the diocese’s first assistant bishop, Iachint of the Pacific, to the faithful on Sunday. The hierarchs concelebrated the Divine Liturgy at the “Life-Giving Spring” Monastery at the Episcopal Residence in Melbourne, Australia.
“We hope that, together, we shall serve with great dedication and renew our ministry,” Bishop Mihail said. “I called him here to assist me in the administrative and spiritual work of the diocese, and he responded as Peter did.”
“Faith, hope and love for the Church moved him to answer our call. He has come here to serve the Church, to be close to our faithful in all the parishes, and to strengthen our spiritual ministry together.”
The bishop acknowledged that challenges lie ahead.
“There will be waves and storms, but with hope, patience, wisdom and good counsel, we pray to God that we may steer the ship safely, just as the Saviour’s boat reached the shore of the Sea of Galilee. May we fulfil our duty here, serve our Romanian Orthodox Church in Australia, strengthen it and expand its work, so that when the Good God calls our souls to judgement, the faithful entrusted to our spiritual care and we may receive a favourable answer before the Righteous Judge.”
New parishes to be established
Bishop Mihail announced that new parishes will be established throughout the diocese and encouraged clergy and faithful alike to support and obey the new assistant bishop, wishing him every blessing in his ministry.
“If we labour in the Lord’s vineyard with faith, patience, love and complete dedication, then all the gifts God pours out upon the world will also be poured out upon us. The fullness of the Church and of divine grace is certainly present wherever the Church lives and works.”
“Grace is made complete where ministry is carried out with great love and steadfast faith.”
“Like a child’s first steps”
Bishop Iachint of the Pacific thanked those present for their warm welcome and for the confidence placed in him, expressing his readiness to serve the Church and the Romanian Orthodox communities of Australia and New Zealand in obedience and close cooperation with Bishop Mihail.
Reflecting on the Gospel account of Christ calming the storm and of the Apostle Peter walking on the water, he said:
“We heard today about the calming of the storm at sea and about the faith—or lack of faith—of the Apostle Peter, who stepped out of the boat and walked on the water for a while. But when he became afraid of the waves and the storm surrounding him, he began to sink and cried out to God to save him. Immediately, the Gospel tells us, Christ stretched out His hand and took hold of him.”
He compared the scene to a child’s first attempts at walking.
“I imagine this scene as the first steps a child takes in life. Those of you who are parents know that when babies begin learning to walk, they set out with remarkable enthusiasm and confidence in their own strength.”
“They may take one, two or three steps, but then, because of the weakness of their nature, they stretch out their hands towards their parents, asking for help, asking to be caught and supported. At once, their mother or father embraces them and helps them, teaching them to walk.”
Turning to Bishop Mihail, he added:
“Your Grace, I find myself in that very position. I need you to reach out to me, to support me and teach me how to walk this new path of episcopal ministry. By learning from your experience and from the guidance I am certain you will continue to offer me, as you have already done, I hope to be of service to this wonderful diocese and to carry out faithfully, obediently and with faith every ministry you entrust to me, for the glory of God and for the pastoral care of the Romanian Orthodox faithful, as well as the Australian and New Zealand faithful, in this far-flung diocese of the Romanian Orthodox Church.”
Bishop Iachint of the Pacific was elected assistant bishop of the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Australia and New Zealand by the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church on 2 July 2026. He was ordained to the episcopacy on 4 July 2026 at the Patriarchal Cathedral in Bucharest.
Photo: Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Australia and New Zealand
