Bucharest, Jan 11 /Agerpres/ - Patriarch Daniel of the Romanian Orthodox Church (BOR) sent a message on Saturday on the occasion of the enthronement of Father Nectarie Petre as the first bishop of the newly established Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Ireland and Iceland, stating that this is 'an event of extraordinary and blessed joy, not only for the Romanian Orthodox community in the two island countries of Western and Northern Europe, but also for the entire Romanian Orthodox Church.'

'Serving the people of God in the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Ireland and Iceland means taking up a great responsibility, especially since the eparchy entrusted to you today is one in full process of organization and consolidation. We are, however, fully convinced that Your All-Holiness, as a worthy and wise steward of the Mysteries of God (cf. 1 Corinthians 4:1), will selflessly serve the Romanian Orthodox community in Ireland and Iceland, fulfilling with devotion the new mission you have been called upon, in cooperation with the other members of the metropolitan synod and in full communion with the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church,' the BOR leader said.

Patriarch Daniel points out that the new bishop has the duty to promote dialogue and cooperation with the hierarchs of the other Orthodox Churches in Ireland and Iceland, but also with representatives of all Christian denominations in these two countries.

'In addition, as the entire European continent is today marked by numerous spiritual, economic, social and political crises, our Christian and Orthodox witness needs to be strengthened and affirmed with even greater wisdom and fidelity to the redemptive truth of the Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, Your All-Holiness, as bishop of the newly established diocese, are bound to promote dialogue and collaboration with the hierarchs of the other Orthodox Churches in Ireland and Iceland, but also with the representatives of all Christian denominations in these two countries, for the purpose of bearing common witness, through word and deed, to show that the principles of the Gospel of Jesus Christ represent the spiritual solution to the multiple challenges of the contemporary world,' adds His All-Holiness Daniel.

According to him, Bishop Nectarie Petre, one of the youngest hierarchs of the Romanian Orthodox Church, is well-versed in the religious realities and pastoral and missionary challenges of Western Europe, thanks to his contact with the Western space and culture during his years of spiritual and theological formation at the 'St. Sergius' Orthodox Theological Institute in Paris, but mainly due to the experience acquired during his service as Assistant Bishop of the Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese of Western Europe.

In its working session on February 29, 2024, the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church approved the creation of the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Ireland and Iceland, with headquarters in Dublin, as a suffragan diocese of the Romanian Orthodox Metropolis of Western and Southern Europe, and on October 25, 2024 it elected His All-Holiness Nectarie of Brittany, assistant Bishop of the Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese of Western Europe, as spiritual leader of this eparchy. AGERPRES (RO - author: Daniel Popescu, editor: Irina Poenaru; EN - editor: Simona Klodnischi)