Bucharest, Jan 9 /Agerpres/ – The first Romanian Orthodox Bishop of Ireland and Iceland, Father Nectarie Petre, will be enthroned on Saturday, January 11, at the Saint Columba Church of the Dublin II Parish.

Among those who have confirmed their participation in the event are Metropolitan Iakovos of Ireland of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, as well as the Anglican Archbishop of Dublin, along with representatives of the Romanian Embassy in Dublin and other authorities, the Basilica Agency announced.

Ordained a bishop in September 2023, Father Nectarie served as Assistant Bishop for the Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese of Western Europe, which also included the jurisdiction of the newly established Diocese of Ireland and Iceland. He is the newest member of the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church.

The Diocese of Ireland and Iceland was established last year, along with the Archdiocese of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, to better serve the growing number of Romanian Orthodox faithful in these areas. According to Basilica Agency, Ireland officially has over 50,000 Romanians, but other estimates suggest the number is actually double. Also, approximately 2,800 Romanians live in Iceland.

The enthronement ceremonies of the new Romanian bishops elected last year began with the smaller diocese, with a similar ceremony to be soon held in London for the liturgical reception of His Grace Bishop Atanasie Rusnac as the first Romanian Orthodox Archbishop of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.