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His
Grace,
Bishop
IRINEU,
was
born
on
April
19,
1962,
in
Alba
Iulia,
Transylvania,
Romania
to
John
and
Aurelia
Duvlea,
an
Orthodox
Christian
family.
His
theological
education
includes
the
Theological
Seminary
in
Cluj
Napoca
(1981-1987),
Theological
Institute
"Andrei
Saguna"
in
Sibiu
(1987-1991),
having
as
a
thesis:
"Rules
of
organization
and
function
of
monasteries
in
the
Romanian
Orthodox
Church."
Moved
to
enter
the
monastic
life,
in
1980
he
entered
the
Brancoveanu
Monastery
at
Sâmbătă
de
Sus,
Braşov
County,
continuing
through
all
the
steps
of
obedience.
On
May
24,
1983,
he
was
tonsured
into
monasticism
by
His
Grace,
Bishop
LUCIAN
of
Fagaraş.
During
his
monastic
life,
His
Grace
was
ordained
into
the
various
ranks
of
Holy
Orders.
On
May
3,
1983,
he
was
ordained
Hierodeacon
by
His
Eminence,
Archbishop
JOHN
of
Helsinki,
Metropolitan
of
Finland,
on
behalf
of
His
Eminence
ANTONIE,
Metropolitan
of
Transylvania,
and,
on
November
17,
1984,
ordained
Hieromonk
in
the
Metropolitan
Cathedral
of
Sibiu
by
His
Eminence
ANTONIE.
He
was
blessed
with
the
opportunity
to
make
two
pilgrimages
to
Mount
Athos
and,
in
1998,
a
pilgrimage
to
the
monasteries
of
Bulgaria
and
Greece
and
to
the
tomb
of
Saint
Nicholas
in
Bari,
Italy.
As
evidence
of
his
dedication
and
service,
on
August
15,
1988,
he
was
blessed
as
Protosinghel
by
His
Eminence
ANTONIE;
on
January
1,
1993,
named
Hegumen
of
the
Brancoveanu
Monastery;
in
1993
named
Exarch
of
Monasteries
in
the
Metropolia;
on
August
15,
1993,
blessed
as
Archimandrite
and
Abbot
of
the
monastery
by
His
Eminence
ANTONIE
on
the
occasion
of
the
consecration
of
the
monastery
by
His
Holiness,
BARTHOLOMEW
I,
Ecumenical
Patriarch
of
Constantinople,
and
His
Beatitude
TEOCTIST,
Patriarch
of
Romania,
also
at
that
time
receiving
the
honor
of
the
"Patriarchal
Cross
of
Constantinople”;
and
on
September
24,
2000,
the
Holy
Synod
of
Romania
bestowed
upon
him
the
rank
of
Mitred
Archimandrite,
a
rare
distinction
in
the
Church
of
Romania.
During
his
time
as
Abbot
of
the
Brancoveanu
Monastery,
he
performed
his
duties
as
Exarch
of
Monasteries
in
the
Metropolia
(encompassing
most
of
Transylvania),
which
included
the
regular
supervision
and
regulation
of
15
monasteries
and
10
sketes,
and
was
delegated
by
His
Eminence
ANTONIE
to
bless
several
monasteries
and
numerous
monuments.
Following
an
exchange
of
letters
between
His
Eminence
ANTONIE
and
His
Eminence
NATHANIEL,
Archbishop
of
Detroit
and
The
Romanian
Orthodox
Episcopate
of
America,
Archimandrite
Irineu
and
a
group
of
monks
were
given
canonical
release
to
come
to
America
and
establish
The
Ascension
of
the
Lord
Monastery
under
the
omofor
of
Archbishop
NATHANIEL,
with
Archimandrite
Irineu
as
Abbot,
at
the
Saint
Andrew
House
in
Detroit,
Michigan.
Since
their
arrival
on
February
23,
2001,
they
worked
to
offer
hospitality,
comfort
and
spiritual
care
to
not
only
the
Romanian
community
but
to
the
entire
Orthodox
population
of
Metropolitan
Detroit
and
the
Midwestern
United
States
region.
Having
been
elected
by
the
Congress
of
The
Romanian
Orthodox
Episcopate
of
America
(ROEA)
in
Special
Session
on
June
28,
2002,
the
members
of
the
Holy
Synod
of
Bishops
of
The
Orthodox
Church
in
America,
under
the
presidency
of
His
Beatitude,
Metropolitan
HERMAN,
confirmed
the
election
of
the
Very
Reverend
Archimandrite
Irineu
to
the
episcopacy
during
its
special
session
as
part
of
the
All-American
Council
on
July
24,
2002.
Bishop
IRINEU
was
consecrated
to
the
episcopacy
on
Saturday,
November
2,
2002,
at
Saint
George
the
Great-Martyr
Romanian
Orthodox
Cathedral
in
Southfield/Detroit,
Michigan.
Presiding
at
the
event
was
His
Beatitude
HERMAN,
Archbishop
of
Washington
and
Metropolitan
of
All
America
and
Canada,
along
with
His
Eminence
NATHANIEL;
Metropolitan
CHRISTOPHER
(Serbian
Patriarchate);
Archbishops
KYRILL
(OCA)
and
NICOLAE
(Romanian
Patriarchate);
Bishops
SERAPHIM
(OCA),
DEMETRI
(Antiochian
Patriarchate)
and
NIKON
(OCA).
Since
his
consecration,
His
Grace
has
overseen
activities
as
requested
of
him
by
Archbishop
NATHANIEL,
traveling
extensively
throughout
the
country,
especially
visiting
the
numerous
mission
communities.
We
look
forward
to
many
more
blessed
and
prosperous
years
with
His
Grace.
Many
Years,
O
Master!
Intru
Mulţi
Ani,
Stăpâne! |
