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

July 9, 2026 · 1 min read

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…

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

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💬 Comments (8) 🌐 Show original

Ольга Зайцева

It’s good that the service is at 8:30, I’ll make it before it gets hot. I wonder how many of our people will go from Kazan, or just watch on TV.

Тетяна Кравченко

It's good that the service is exactly at 8:30, as it often happens here. I wonder if one of our parishioners will come from Poltava, or if they will only watch it via broadcast.

Vasile Constantinescu

Glad the job starts at 8:30 so we don't get hot. I will also try to get from Constanța by car, maybe I will see the Most Reverend Teofan, whom I heard preach in Iasi last year.

Dušan Jovanović

Good thing the liturgy is at 8:30, at least it won't be so hot in Chișinău. It is interesting that Teofan from Moldavia and Bukovina will preside, I heard him preach once. I hope that our people from Podgorica will be able to follow at least through the transmission.

Florin Stan

Glad you're coming from Constanța, the road is beautiful but long by car. I'm from Iași, I saw His Holiness Teofan at the cathedral two years ago, he preached about patience in times of trouble. I hope it won't be too crowded on a Sunday morning.

Ηλίας Χατζής

Good thing it starts at 8:30, we'll get there before it gets too hot. It is not easy to get from Volos, but I will watch the broadcast. Theofanis from Iasio is a good hierarch, I remember him from a long time ago.

Marius Florea

Glad you're coming from Constanța too, Vasile. I work in the restaurant there and I know what the road to Chisinau is like, especially on Sunday mornings. Are you going to leave on Friday night or Saturday?

Marius Matei

Glad to hear about the road from Constanța, Florin. I am an electrician here in Iași and I also heard the Most Reverend Teofan speak about patience, even at an evening service. Do you think it's worth leaving the night before to avoid the Sunday morning crowds?