Romanian Church elects new head of Metropolis of Bessarabia

A new head of the Metropolis of Bessarabia, Bishop Anthony (Telembici). Photo: Basilica.ro

The Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church has elected Bishop Anthony of Bălți as the new Metropolitan of Bessarabia. The decision was made on July 2, 2026, at a working session of the Synod in Bucharest, held under the chairmanship of Patriarch Daniel, reports Basilica.ro.

Bishop Anthony won the election, surpassing the second candidate, Bishop Benjamin of Southern Bessarabia. The voting took place in the Grand Hall "Patriarch Teoctist" at the Patriarchal Palace.

The new head of the Metropolis was born on May 29, 1963, in the village of Gârbovăț, Anenii Noi district, Moldova. He received a medical education in Chișinău, after which he graduated from the St. Dumitru Stăniloae Faculty of Theology in Iași, Romania.

From 1995, he was engaged in administrative, missionary, and media work within the structures of the Metropolis of Bessarabia, taking an active part in the development of the church life in the region.

In 2014, at the proposal of the former Metropolitan Peter of Bessarabia, the Synod elected him Vicar Bishop of the Archdiocese of Chișinău. His episcopal consecration took place on May 24, 2014, at the Patriarchal Cathedral in Bucharest. Four years later, in May 2018, the hierarch was appointed to the See of Bălți.

As the UOJ reported, the previous head of the Metropolis of Bessarabia, Peter, requested to be relieved of his duties due to health reasons.

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