On 5 and 6 February 2015, the working session of the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church is taking place at the Patriarchal Residence, under the chairmanship of His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel.
On the first day, after opening the session, the meeting of the Holy Synod for the election of the new Bishop of the Diocese of Covasna and Harghita was held under the chairmanship of His Eminence Laurentiu, Metropolitan of Transylvania.
On 23 January 2015, after consulting the Eparchial Assembly of the Diocese of Covasna and Harghita, the Metropolitan Synod of the Metropolitanate of Transylvania assigned by secret ballot His Grace Andrei Fagarasanul, Assistant Bishop to the Archdiocese of Sibiu and His Grace Calinic Botosaneanul, Assistant Bishop to the Archdiocese of Iasi as candidates.
The Holy Synod elected by secret ballot His Grace Andrei Fagarasanul, Assistant Bishop to the Archdiocese of Sibiu, for the vacant position of Bishop of the Diocese of Covasna and Harghita with 38 votes out of the 45 expressed.
The enthronement of the new titular Bishop of the Diocese of Covasna and Harghita will take place Sunday, 15 February 2015, in the Episcopal Cathedral of Miercurea Ciuc city.
Press Office of the Romanian Patriarchate
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Assistant Bishop Andrei Fagarasanul was born on 22 November 1967, in Chetani locality, county of Mures, as first child to parents Nicolae and Maria. He attended the primary and secondary schools in his native village Chetani, county of Mures. He graduated the high school of Iernut, county of Mures, in 1986. In 1989, he went to live at Toplita Monastery, county of Harghita.
On 19 July 1990 he was tonsured into monasticism with the name of Andrei, by His Eminence Andrei of Alba Iulia. On 20 July 1990 he was ordained hierodeacon for Toplita Monastery by His Eminence Antonie Plamadeala of Transylvania. On 21 November 1990 he was ordained hieromonk at Toplita Monastery by His Eminence Andrei of Alba Iulia. On 10 August 1995 he was appointed abbot of Fagetel Monastery, county of Harghita, by His Grace Ioan of Covasna and Harghita.
In 1995, His Grace Ioan transferred him and two other monks from Toplita Monastery to Fagetel Monastery that was hard tried in 1940. He found only the church monastery here, because the rest of it had been destroyed. On 29 August 1999 he was awarded the rank of protosingelos at Fagetel Monastery by His Grace Ioan of Covasna and Harghita.
In 2000, he graduated the “Patriarch Justinian” Faculty of Orthodox Theology of Bucharest. Then, from 2002-2005, he attended post graduate courses at the Faculty of Orthodox Theology within the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece.
On 1 October 2005, he was appointed Exarch of the monasteries of the Diocese of Covasna and Harghita, a position he held till he was ordained hierarch. From 1995 – 2008, His Grace Andrei supervised the reconstruction of this monastery: church painting, belfry, block of cells, guest house, and outbuilding. At the same time he succeeded to gather a community of monks here, where the Romanians are in minority, urging some of them to study at the theological schools of the country.
During the working session of the Holy Synod of 8-9 July 2008 held at the Patriarchate Palace of Bucharest, Rt Rev Archimandrite Andrei Moldovan was elected Assistant Bishop to the Archdiocese of Sibiu, a vacancy created as a result of the election of His Grace Dr Visarion Baltat as Bishop of the new Diocese of Tulcea.
On 15 August 2008, feast of the Falling Asleep of the Mother of God, he was ordained hierarch at Brancoveanu Monastery from Sambata de Sus (Information taken over from www.mitropolia-ardealului.ro).
