Metropolitan of Bessarabia-elect Antonie to take office in Sunday enthronement

Bishop Antonie of Bălți will be enthroned as Archbishop of Chișinău, Metropolitan of Bessarabia and Exarch of the Territories on Sunday in Chișinău.

The enthronement ceremony will take place during the Divine Liturgy, beginning at 8:30 a.m., at the Church of the Three Holy Hierarchs in the capital of the Republic of Moldova.

The service will be presided over by Metropolitan Teofan of Moldavia and Bucovina, with concelebrants including hierarchs of the Synod of the Metropolis of Bessarabia, as well as other bishops and clergy of the Romanian Orthodox Church.

Representatives of central and local authorities, public institutions and civil society, along with numerous faithful, are expected to attend the ceremony.

“We invite all clergy, monks, nuns and faithful to take part in this event of profound spiritual and historical significance, so that together we may offer prayers to God and ask for His blessing upon the ministry of the new Primate,” the Metropolis of Bessarabia said.

Bishop Antonie of Bălți was elected Archbishop of Chișinău, Metropolitan of Bessarabia and Exarch of the Territories by the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church during its meeting on 2 July…