Bishop Veniamin ordained for Southern Bessarabia Diocese

Bishop-elect Veniamin Goreanu was ordained Saturday to the Episcopate during the hierarchical Divine Liturgy presided at the Patriarchal Cathedral in Bucharest by His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel.

Concelebrants for the Divine Liturgy included: Metropolitan Petru of Bessarabia, Archbishop Casian of Lower Danube, Bishop Galaction of Alexandria and Teleorman, Bishop-elect Antonie of Bălți, Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop Varlaam of Ploiești, Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop Ieronim of Sinaia, and Auxiliary Bishop Timotei of Prahova.

After the Divine Liturgy, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel bestowed upon bp Veniamin the final liturgical items associated with episcopacy, the mantle and the pastoral staff.

‘Receive this Staff to shepherd the flock of Christ entrusted to you. To the obedient let it be a help and a support. With it, lead the disobedient and the wayward to admonishment and instruction.’

In his speech, the Romanian Patriarch spoke about the significance of the hierarchical mantle and pastoral staff.

‘The mantle reminds of the teaching ministry’ the bishop has for the clergy and believers in his Diocese, and the capacity to have spiritual children or disciples, the patriarch noted.

‘The pastoral staff means the responsibility to lead the faithful entrusted to the bishop on the way to salvation. The staff shows the steadfastness of faith, but also steadfastness in protecting the clergy and believers entrusted to the episcopal pastorship,’ he added.

His Beatitude said that the newly-ordained Bishop Veniamin ‘is known as an industrious and pious man.’

‘He was the rector of the St Spyridon Metropolitan Cathedral, where he carried out various works of consolidation, restoration, and renewal.’

‘His entire experience in church administration, in pastoral care in a big city and in the educational field will be beneficial in his new work as Bishop of Southern Bessarabia,’ the patriarch noted, urging Bp Veniamin to have ‘much patience, self-offering, and much sacrifice.’

‘We wish His Grace Bishop Veniamin of Southern Bessarabia much help from God and may he keep a great piety in his soul and serve the Church joyfully,’ His Beatitude added.

Bishop Veniamin thanked God for this great gift and expressed his joy to shepherd the clergy and faithful in the Diocese of Southern Bessarabia.

Photos: Lumina Newspaper

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