Two candidates for the office of Metropolitan of Bessarabia were nominated on Saturday, following the proceedings of the Metropolitan Synod convened in Chișinău.
Following consultations and a secret ballot, the members of the Synod proposed His Grace Bishop Antonie of Bălți and His Grace Bishop Veniamin of Southern Bessarabia as candidates for the office.
After the Synod concluded its work, the hierarchs met with the clerical and lay members of the Eparchial Assembly of the Archdiocese of Chișinău, together with representatives of the Diocese of Bălți and the Diocese of Southern Bessarabia, who were delegated to the National Church Assembly of the Romanian Patriarchate.
The participants reviewed the list proposed by the Metropolitan Synod and decided to maintain it unchanged, without nominating a third candidate.
According to the Romanian Orthodox Church’s statutory procedures, the proposals resulting from the consultations in Chișinău will be submitted to the Holy Synod, which may add a further candidate to the list and elect the future Metropolitan of Bessarabia by secret ballot.
Photo: Facebook / Metropolis of Bessarabia
