His Grace Bishop Siluan of Italy marks 25 years of episcopal ministry on Wednesday.
The hierarch was born on 5 March 1970 in Gura Râului, Sibiu County, Romania, and received the name Ciprian Nicolae at Baptism.
In 1988, he completed his studies at Gheorghe Lazăr Mathematics and Physics High School in Sibiu. Between 1989 and 1993, he studied at the Andrei Șaguna Faculty of Orthodox Theology in the same city.
A year after graduating from university, he was ordained first as a celibate deacon and then as a celibate priest, serving at the chapel of the theological faculty.
Between 1994 and 1998, he pursued doctoral studies at the St Sergius Orthodox Theological Institute in Paris, France.
Ministry within the Church
From 1994 to 2001, he served as a priest and spiritual father at the Monastery of the Protection of the Mother of God in Bussy-en-Othe, Yonne, France.
On 21 June 2001, he received the monastic tonsure at the Skete of St Silouan the Athonite in Lăzești, Alba County, from Hieromonk Rafail Noica.
That same year, the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church elected him Assistant Bishop of the Metropolis of Western and Southern Europe, and he received the title of Bishop of Marseille.
He was ordained a bishop on 21 October 2001 at St Joseph’s Church in Bordeaux, France.
Three years later, he was transferred to the Romanian Orthodox Vicariate of Italy.
On 5 March 2008, he was elected Bishop of Italy, and his enthronement took place in May of the same year.
Throughout more than two decades of ministry in Italy, Bishop Siluan has played an important role in organising and developing the Church life of Romanian communities abroad.
Under his leadership, the network of parishes, deaneries, monasteries and pastoral-missionary centres has expanded.
Particular attention has also been given to liturgical and missionary activities, clergy training, religious education for children and young people, and support for families and vulnerable people.
In 2026, the Italian state recognised the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Italy.
Photo: BASILICA
