His Grace Bishop Teofil of Trotuș, Assistant Bishop of the Archdiocese of Roman and Bacău and former Representative of the Romanian Patriarchate in the Holy Land, installed Saturday the Very Rev. Protosyncellus Ioan Meiu as the new Superior of the Romanian Settlements in Jerusalem, Jericho and the Jordan, and his successor at the Representation of the Romanian Patriarchate at the Holy Places.
The bishop celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the church of the Romanian Representation in Jerusalem.
The service included three key moments: the reading of the message of His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel confirming the appointment; the prayer of investiture, filled with spiritual significance; and the handing over of the pastoral crozier, a symbol of ministry, fatherly care, and responsibility.
Also presented was the oil lamp through which, year after year, the Holy Fire of the Resurrection is brought from the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem to Romania—a sign of continuity in this tradition.
Blessing for fruitful service
The ceremony was attended by members of the Romanian diplomatic corps accredited in Israel, clergy from the settlements in Jerusalem and Jericho and from the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, as well as Romanian pilgrims in the Holy Land.
“Protosyncellus Ioan Meiu has already served as a priest at the Representation of the Romanian Patriarchate, so he knows the realities and challenges of the mission in the Holy Land,” Assistant Bishop Teofil told Trinitas TV.
“He will continue this ministry here, striving to keep the Romanian candle of prayer burning at the Holy Places and to welcome Romanian pilgrims.”
“We wish Protosyncellus Ioan Meiu fruitful service, to intensify the activities in the Holy Land, and to represent with honour the Romanian Patriarchate and Patriarch Daniel with joy and blessing!” the hierarch added.
About Protosyncellus Ioan Meiu
Fr. Ioan Meiu has served at the Representation of the Romanian Patriarchate in Jerusalem for more than a decade, during which time he was both ecclesiarch of the church of the Romanian Settlement and Chief Secretary of the Representation.
He entered monastic life in 2008 at St. John the Russian Monastery in Giurgiu County. He holds a PhD in Theology from the University of Craiova and previously served at Darvari Skete in Bucharest and at the Patriarchal Cathedral.
Photo: Facebook / Romanian Orthodox Church in Jerusalem
