Enthronement of the new Romanian Orthodox Archbishop

of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

On Saturday, May 10, 2025, His Grace Bishop Ioan Casian participated in the enthronement service of His Eminence Atanasie as the first Romanian Archbishop of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

The event was attended by His Eminence Iosif of the Metropolia of Western and Southern Europe, His Eminence Nifon, Archbishop of Târgoviște, Patriarchal Exarch and Honorary Metropolitan, His Eminence Maximus of Melitini, representative of the Archdiocese of Thyateira and Great Britain within the Ecumenical Patriarchate, His Eminence Siluan, Antiochian Orthodox Metropolitan of the British Isles and Ireland, His Eminence Andrei, Georgian Orthodox Archbishop of Great Britain and Ireland, His Graces Ignatie of Huși, Veniamin of Southern Bessarabia, Siluan of Italy, Timothy of Spain and Portugal, Nektarios of Ireland and Iceland, auxiliary – bishops Marc Nemțeanul, Damaschin of Dorneanul and Teofil of Iberia.

The event began with the celebration of the Holy Liturgy in the Cathedral of St. Great Martyr George in London. At the end of it, the enthronement service of the new archbishop was performed by His Eminence Metropolitan Joseph. The new archbishop was handed the mantle, the cross and the engolpion, the camilafca and the staff and he was seated according to the order in the hierarchal bishop's throne. The enthronement hrisov and several messages were read: from His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel, from King Charles III by Lord Chamberlain Richard Henry Ronald Benyon, from the Romanian Ambassador to Great Britain, Her Excellency Laura Popescu and from the Secretary of State for Religious Affairs, Ciprian Olinici on behalf of the Government of Romania.

His Eminence Metropolitan Iosif continued to convey several exhortations to the new archbishop: to take care of everyone, younger or older, and to take care of the great responsibility that begins with this moment and the overwhelming grace that accompanies it.

The new Archbishop Atanasie thanked for the trust granted by the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church through this election and spoke about the sense of responsibility he feels towards this mission and the new path begun under the protection of the Good Shepherd.

In his message delivered from the event to the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Canada, His Grace Bishop Ioan Casian said:

“We participated in an uplifting and unique historical moment. A new pastor of the Church is enthroned and a new Romanian eparchy in the diaspora, this time for Great Britain and Northern Ireland, is inaugurated. It is a solemn event of great spiritual significance. The Church is strengthened by the mission of the new archbishop and the new Archdiocese. The work of the apostles is renewed and continued. Orthodox Romanians and not only receive a worthy pastor and a Church framework that will contribute to the intensification of the mission and to a better coordination of pastoral work, teaching and administrative activity.

It was a moment of deep liturgical and spiritual communion and a new beginning for both the new archbishop and the Romanian communities in the United Kingdom. It strengthens the continuity and canonical communion between Romanian parishes and with the other Orthodox Churches.

It is an occasion in which the Church makes its presence felt in society, reaffirming its mission to serve God and the people and to bear witness to the values ​​of the Gospel here and now.”

Also present at the event were Mons. Miguel Maury Buendía, apostolic nuncio to the United Kingdom of Great Britain, representatives of the Department of Romanians Abroad, delegates of European institutions and other Christian denominations in Great Britain.

The event ended with a traditional fraternal agape in which those present participated.