Metropolitan Theodosius concelebrates with Patriarch Teoctist at Consecration of new Archbishop
His Beatitude, Metropolitan Theodosius, Primate of the Orthodox Church in America, concelebrated with His Beatitude, Patriarch Teoctist of Romania at the consecration of Archimandrite Nicolae [Condrea] to the episcopacy at Saint John the Baptist Romanian Orthodox Church here the weekend of July 13-14, 2002.
Archimandrite Nicolae was elected Archbishop of the Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese in America and Canada of the Patriarchate of Romania at a Church Congress in Troy, MI on Saturday, March 9, 2002.
Consecration ceremonies began on Saturday evening with the celebration of Great Vespers and the Rite of Election to the episcopacy. On Sunday morning, the consecration took place during the Divine Liturgy. In addition to Patriarch Teoctist and Metropolitan Theodosius, other hierarchs concelebrating at the consecration included His Eminence, Metropolitan Sotirios of the Greek Orthodox Metropolitanate of Canada; His Eminence, Archbishop Nathaniel of Detroit and the OCA Romanian Episcopate; His Grace, Bishop Seraphim of Ottawa and Canada [OCA]; His Grace, Bishop Nicholas of the Greek Orthodox Diocese of Detroit; and several hierarchs from Romania. Accompanying Metropolitan Theodosius was his secretary, the Very Rev. David Brum.
“You have been entrusted with the archpastoral staff—a sign of your episcopal authority and of your episcopal service,” Metropolitan Theodosius said in greeting Archbishop Nicolae at the banquet which followed the consecration Liturgy. “In accepting this staff—a shepherd’s staff—may you also accept the call to imitate the one True Shepherd. I exhort you to carry this staff with confidence that the Lord Himself will be you staff and your shield. I also encourage you carry it with humility and with the awareness that all that you may accomplish will only be accomplished by the mercy and blessing of the Lord Himself. Serve God’s people with love and generosity. Minister to Christ’s priests with fatherly solicitude. Love and care for all who come to you in need with the love of Christ Himself.”
Metropolitan Theodosius and Patriarch Teoctist also met privately during the weekend to discuss mutual concerns facing the Orthodox Church in America and the Orthodox Church of Romania.
Archbishop Nicolae was born in 1967 in Constanta, Romania. After completing theological studies at the Theological Faculty, Sibiu, Romania and Marc Bloch University, Strasbourg, he served as the Romanian Patriarchate’s delegate to the Dialogue Committee for European Integration within the Brussels-based Conference of European Churches. In December 2001 he entered the Monastery of Radu Voda, Bucharest while serving as Patriarchal Secretary.