Patriarch Daniel addressed a message of congratulations to His Eminence Atanasie on the occasion of his enthronement as first Archbishop of the Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
His Eminence Hon Metropolitan Nifon, Archbishop of Târgoviște and Patriarchal Exarch, is attending the ceremony in London as a delegate of the Patriarch.
In his message, Patriarch Daniel emphasizes that the enthronement of the first Archbishop of the Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese of Great Britain and Northern Ireland represents “the beginning of a new stage in your service of the Church of Christ, characterized by multiple responsibilities and a holy calling to shepherd a Romanian Orthodox community far from its homeland”.
„We assure you of our prayers, with the hope that the pastoral and missionary work that you are going to start will be fruitful and well-pleasing to God”, transmitted the Patriarch of Romania.
Full text:
Your Eminences, Your Graces,
Your Eminence Archbishop Atanasie,
Most Reverend and Venerable Fathers,
Esteemed audience
Christ is risen!
The enthronement of His Eminence Atanasie Rusnac as the first hierarch of the newly established Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese of Great Britain and Northern Ireland represents a moment of blessed joy for the entire Romanian Orthodox Church and a spiritually and historically significant event for the Romanian Orthodox community in the north-western lands of the European continent.
In its working session of February 29, 2024, the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church approved the establishment of the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Great Britain, with its headquarters in London, as a suffragan diocese of the Romanian Orthodox Metropolis of Western and Southern Europe. Then, on July 11-12, 2024, during the working session of the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church, the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Great Britain was elevated to the rank of Archdiocese, with the following title: The Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
On October 25, 2024, the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church elected His Grace Atanasie of Bogdania, Auxiliary Bishop of the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Italy, as Archbishop of this Archdiocese.
The establishment of the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Great Britain and its elevation to the rank of Archdiocese mark the culmination of the efforts undertaken by the Romanian Patriarchate in its pastoral caring for the Romanian Orthodox priests and faithful who have settled, temporarily or permanently, in Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Moreover, the establishment of this diocese, with the support of His Eminence Iosif, the Romanian Orthodox Metropolitan of Western and Southern Europe, and of the state authorities, as well as its elevation to the rank of Archdiocese, represents a recognition of the dynamism and intensity of the spiritual life of the Romanian Orthodox community in the United Kingdom.
Therefore, during this solemn moment of the Enthronement, His Eminence Archbishop Atanasie Rusnac is entrusted by the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church with the new mission of being a spiritual father, shepherd, and pillar of the faith and unity of the Romanian Orthodox priests and faithful in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
His Eminence Archbishop Atanasie Rusnac is one of the youngest hierarchs of the Romanian Orthodox Church, a diligent and missionary pastor, with extensive pastoral experience gained especially during his years of service as Auxiliary Bishop of the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Italy. He is very knowledgeable of the religious, missionary, and social realities of the Romanian diaspora in Western Europe.
Your Eminence Archbishop Atanasie,
The enthronement of Your Eminence as the first Archbishop of the Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese of Great Britain and Northern Ireland marks the beginning of a new stage in your service of the Church of Christ, characterized by multiple responsibilities and a holy calling to shepherd a Romanian Orthodox community far from its homeland.
In the context of the diaspora, where the faithful often face challenges of integration, identity, and the preservation of spiritual, cultural, and national values, your enthronement as Archbishop of the Romanian Orthodox community in Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a crucial landmark for strengthening and providing spiritual support to them.
We are confident that Your Eminence will continue to work with the same love, gentleness, and wisdom in the vineyard of our Lord Jesus Christ, the “Good Shepherd” (John 10, 11), for the unity, strengthening, and renewal of the ecclesial life of the Romanian Orthodox faithful in the United Kingdom, inspiring in the hearts of all hope, peace, and the desire to walk together on the path of salvation.
On this blessed day, we pray that God may grant you wisdom, health and spiritual guidance in the service of the flock entrusted to you. May your new pastoral and missionary activity bring you spiritual joy, peace, and abundant help from our Lord Jesus Christ, “The High Priest of our confession” (Hebrews 3, 1).
At the same time, we assure you of our prayers, with the hope that the pastoral and missionary work that you are going to start will be fruitful and well-pleasing to God.
With fraternal love and paternal blessing in our Lord Jesus Christ,
† Daniel
Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church
Photo courtesy of Basilica.ro
