15.01.2025
First Romanian Orthodox Bishop of New Diocese of Ireland and Iceland Enthroned
Dublin was the location for the historic enthronement of Bishop Nectarie as the first Romanian Orthodox Bishop of Ireland and Iceland on Saturday (January 11). Bishop Nectarie was consecrated for the youngest diocese in the Romanian diaspora at the Divine Liturgy held at the Parish of The Holy Great Martyr George and St Columba in Dublin.
The Church of Ireland was represented at the consecration by Archbishop Michael Jackson and Canon Paul Arbuthnot. Archbishop Jackson delivered a greeting and said the consecration of a bishop in the Church of God was always a joy and a delight for people of faith.
He said the people of the Church of Ireland valued the close relationship of friendship and solidarity with members of the Romanian Orthodox Church. “We are honoured to number Metropolitan Joseph, your Patriarch, as one of our Ecumenical Canons in Christ Church Cathedral. He is always welcome and you are always welcome. We are honoured also to know many of your priests and your people,” he said.
The Archbishop outlined the strong links that existed between Ireland and Iceland. “These are of long standing. It is understood that Irish women, captured by Viking sailors to Ireland and taken to Iceland, brought Christianity into the homes and the communities there as what today we might call domestic missionaries. There is a further link in that both the Church of Ireland and the Church of Iceland are signatories of the Porvoo Agreement between the Anglican Provinces of these islands and the Lutheran Churches of Scandinavia and the Baltics,” he explained adding that the Archbishop of Iceland had asked him to convey her greetings and good wishes to Bishop Nectarie.
He anticipated strengthening the ties of solidarity between both churches as an expression of faith, hope and love as they both seek to witness to the compassion and expression of faith of the Incarnate Christ and the Holy Spirit.
The Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Ireland and Iceland has its headquarters in Dublin. It was established by the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church in February 2024. Along with the Archdiocese of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, it forms part of the Romanian Orthodox Metropolis of Western and Southern Europe. Bishop Nectarie Petre was elected its first bishop in October 2024.