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New Assistant Bishop for Australia and New Zealand ordained at Romania’s Patriarchal Cathedral

July 7, 2026 · 1 min read

The newly elected Assistant Bishop of the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Australia and New Zealand was ordained on Saturday at the Patriarchal Cathedral in Bucharest.

The Divine Liturgy was celebrated by His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel of the Romanian Orthodox Church, together with Bishop Mihail of Australia and New Zealand, Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishops Varlaam of Ploiești and Paisie of Sinaia, and Assistant Bishop Timotei of Prahova of the Archdiocese of Bucharest.

The episcopal ordination took place during the Divine Liturgy. At the conclusion of the service, His Grace Bishop Iachint of the Pacific received the episcopal insignia from Patriarch Daniel.

Patriarchal act of confirmation Bishop Varlaam presented the patriarchal act of confirmation of the new hierarch. Photo credit: Basilica.ro / Raluca-Emanuela Ene The Patriarchal Act of Confirmation was presented by Bishop Varlaam of Ploiești, who also serves as Secretary of the Holy Synod.

“From His Grace we expect, as provided by Apostolic Canon 34, respect and obedience toward his diocesan bishop, His Grace Bishop Mihail of the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Australia and New Zealand, toward the Patriarch of Romania,…

Source: Basilica News Agency (English) · Read the full story →

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Анна Воробьёва

Happy for the Romanian diaspora in Australia and New Zealand. I wonder how the new ruler Iakinthos will settle down there - after all, the distances are enormous. And canon 34 about obedience to your bishop is correct, without this it is very difficult in distant dioceses.

Леся Панченко

It is good that the new Bishop Iahint received a clear reminder of the 34th Apostolic Canon back in Bucharest. The distance between Australia and New Zealand is really great, so the obedience of Bishop Michael will be especially important there. I wonder if he plans to travel between parishes often.

Paul Davis

Yeah, that huge distance between Australia and New Zealand is no joke. Good they reminded him about Apostolic Canon 34 right there in Bucharest; obedience to Bishop Mihail will make things smoother when he’s bouncing between parishes. Wonder if he’ll start with the Melbourne ones first.

Ирина Голубева

I agree, Anna, Canon 34 really keeps everything in place, especially when the diocese is spread over two continents. In our Sunday school we were just recently talking about distant parishes in Siberia - there, too, without strict obedience, confusion quickly begins. I wonder whether Bishop Iakinthos will travel to communities himself or work more through priests?

Samuel Miller

Yeah, that reminder about Apostolic Canon 34 right at the ordination makes sense, especially with the distances between Australia and New Zealand. Bishop Iachint will have his hands full bouncing between parishes like the ones in Melbourne. Pray he settles in steady.