{"id":581355,"date":"2026-07-21T12:49:00","date_gmt":"2026-07-21T09:49:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/basilica.ro\/?p=581355"},"modified":"2026-07-21T12:49:00","modified_gmt":"2026-07-21T09:49:00","slug":"metropolitan-antonie-enthroned-bessarabia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/basilica.ro\/en\/metropolitan-antonie-enthroned-bessarabia\/","title":{"rendered":"Metropolitan Antonie of Bessarabia enthroned in Chi\u0219in\u0103u, calls for unity and shared mission"},"content":{"rendered":"

His Eminence Metropolitan Antonie of Bessarabia was enthroned on Sunday, July 12, in Chi\u0219in\u0103u in the presence of several hierarchs of the Romanian Orthodox Church, Romanian Secretary of State for Religious Affairs Ciprian Olinici, and senior officials from the Republic of Moldova, who attended the Divine Liturgy and enthronement ceremony held at the Church of the Holy Three Hierarchs and the Life-Giving Spring.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The service was presided over by Metropolitan Teofan of Moldavia and Bukovina. Concelebrating were Archbishop Casian of Lower Danube, Archbishop Atanasie of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Bishop Ignatie of Hu\u0219i, Bishop Veniamin of Southern Bessarabia, as well as Assistant Bishop Nichifor of Boto\u0219ani of the Archdiocese of Ia\u0219i, Assistant Bishop Nectarie of Bogdania of the Archdiocese of Chi\u0219in\u0103u, and Assistant Bishop Teofil of Trotu\u0219 of the Archdiocese of Roman and Bac\u0103u.<\/p>\n

After Archbishop Casian read the Patriarchal Gramata, Metropolitan Teofan, acting as the representative of Patriarch Daniel, presented the new Metropolitan of Bessarabia with the mantle, pectoral cross, engolpion, black kamilavka bearing a cross, and episcopal staff\u2014the insignia of the metropolitan rank. On behalf of the Patriarch of Romania, the new metropolitan also received a blessing cross as a gift.<\/p>\n

“He is not alone in the ministry before him”<\/h2>\n
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Metropolitan Antonie of Bessarabia was enthroned on Sunday, July 12, 2026, in Chisinau. The delegate of His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel was His Eminence Metropolitan Teofan of Moldavia and Bukovina. Photo: Diaconia Social Mission \/ Ionela Donos<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

“His Eminence Metropolitan Antonie is not alone in the ministry that lies before him. Christ the Lord, His Most Holy Mother\u2014the Protectress of the city of Chi\u0219in\u0103u\u2014the Romanian saints of Bessarabia Joseph, Heraclius, Dionysius, Alexander, Blandina, Sofian, and many others known only to God are with him,” Metropolitan Teofan said.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

“The priests and faithful of the parishes await him with great hope. The small monastic community of the eparchy seeks encouragement, support, and growth. Many scholars, members of the Academy, university professors and public officials in various fields stand ready to cooperate.”<\/p>\n

“The sister Metropolis of Ia\u0219i, many dioceses and institutions in Romania, and above all the Romanian Patriarchate regard the Metropolis of Bessarabia as part of the same endeavour of drawing closer together and working jointly for the good of the Romanian people on both banks of the River Prut,” Metropolitan Teofan added.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Fr Andrei Bucli\u0219, diocesan secretary, then conveyed the message of the clergy and faithful of the Metropolis.<\/p>\n

“We welcome Your Eminence with open hearts and with the hope that the activity of our Metropolis will continue to grow. We trust that, through the common efforts of Your Eminence, the diocesan administration, the clergy and the faithful, we shall witness and experience uninterrupted flourishing in every aspect of the Metropolis of Bessarabia, which has endured so many hardships throughout history.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

A call to work together<\/h2>\n
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Metropolitan Antonie declared that he would not be able to fulfil his mission alone and called on members of the church administrative apparatus, representatives of institutions, clergy and believers to work together. Photo: Diaconia Social Mission \/ Ionela Donos<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

“I understand the great responsibility that now rests upon me. This is a new beginning. The challenges will be different. It is clear that I will not succeed on my own,” the new Metropolitan of Bessarabia said.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

He called upon members of the diocesan administration, clergy and faithful alike to work together:<\/p>\n

“All of us\u2014clergy and faithful alike\u2014share the same mission: the growth and flourishing of the Metropolis of Bessarabia.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

“It depends on us whether we demonstrate that we have fulfilled our duty,” Metropolitan Antonie added. “To our effort and our repentance, God responds by sending His grace, which always heals what is infirm and completes what is lacking, as we read in one of the prayers from the Mystery of Holy Priesthood.”<\/p>\n

Metropolitan Antonie also underlined the importance of national identity, quoting St Dumitru St\u0103niloae, who described national identity as “humanity itself expressed in a particular form”, and the Bessarabian priest Alexei Mateevici, who wrote:<\/p>\n

“We are Moldovans, the sons of ancient Moldavia, yet we belong to the great body of the Romanian people established throughout Romania, Bukovina and Transylvania. Our brothers in Bukovina, Transylvania and Macedonia do not call themselves after the places where they live, but Romanians. We should do the same.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Gratitude to mentors and parents<\/h2>\n
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The event was attended by numerous officials from both banks of the Prut. Photo: Diaconia Social Mission \/ Ionela Donos<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Metropolitan Antonie<\/a> began his address by recalling his search for meaning during his years at the Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy in Chi\u0219in\u0103u, a journey that eventually led him to study at the Faculty of Orthodox Theology in Ia\u0219i.<\/p>\n

In this context, he highlighted the decisive role that Patriarch Daniel played in his theological and spiritual formation during the years when the current Patriarch of Romania served as Metropolitan of Moldavia and Bukovina and taught at the Faculty of Theology in Ia\u0219i.<\/p>\n

Towards the conclusion of his address, Metropolitan Antonie expressed gratitude to his parents and paid special tribute to his mother, Feodora:<\/p>\n

“Although my mother could neither read nor write, she was my first teacher. The first lessons I received from her were faith in God, kindness and respect for other people. She taught me how to pray, and she was the first person to take me to church.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

He also thanked the institutions in both Romania and the Republic of Moldova that have supported and cooperated with the Metropolis of Bessarabia over the years, expressing his readiness to continue working with all those committed to strengthening Romanian identity and the Orthodox faith.<\/p>\n