His Grace Bishop Veniamin of Southern Bessarabia celebrates his 50th birthday on Wednesday.
He was born on June 11, 1975, in Puhoi, Anenii Noi District, in the Republic of Moldova.
He entered monastic life at Neamț Monastery in 2007 and was ordained a hierodeacon and later a hieromonk at St Anthimos Monastery in Bucharest in early 2008.
Beginning January 15, 2009, he was appointed coordinating priest of the Patriarchal Metochion of Saint Spyridon the New in Bucharest, which holds the status of Metropolitan Cathedral.
On November 28, 2010, during a service at the Patriarchal Cathedral, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel elevated him to the rank of archimandrite.
Education
Bishop Veniamin holds three bachelor’s degrees—in Law, Theology, and Political and Administrative Sciences.
On February 27, 2006, he earned his PhD in Theology from the Saint Andrew the Apostle Faculty of Orthodox Theology at Ovidius University in Constanța.
From 2003 until his episcopal election in 2018, he held various roles within the Patriarchal Administration and the Archdiocese of Bucharest.
The Holy Synod elected him Bishop of Southern Bessarabia during its working session on May 24, 2018, and ordained him on May 26, 2018.
Photo: Basilica.ro
