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Biography

His Eminence, Archbishop ATANASIE

I. Biographical data

  • Born on 17 January 1982, in Chisinau (civil name: Tudor Rusnac), Republic of Moldova, being the first of two sons of Eugen and Ala Rusnac.

II. Training and professional experience

  • 08/1998 to 02/1999 – High school semester of academic exchange in Springfield, Louisiana, USA;
  • 2000 – High school diploma from ‘Republican, Mathematical & Physics High School‘, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova, majoring in Mathematics and Physics. Participated multiple times at both the Physics Olympiad (Pho) and the Mathematics Olympiad (MO), on republican, national, and international levels;
  • 2000 to 2005 – INSA Lyon (National Institute of Applied Sciences in Lyon – France). Master’s Degree in Engineering – Majoring in Telecommunications and Networks;
  • 2002 – European Studies Certificate from INSA Lyon;
  • 07/2004 to 01/2005 – IT internship (MT System – Lyon, France);
  • 2005 – 2008 – Worked in IT & Financial Engineering at BNP PARIBAS Bank (‘Groupe Arbitrage‘, Paris Stock Exchange);
  • 2006 to 2010 – Faculty of Orthodox Theology ‘Saint-Serge‘, Paris, France. Graduated in 2010, with a Bachelor’s Degree in Orthodox Pastoral Theology;
  • 2010 to 2012 – Master’s Degree in Practical Theology (Canon Law), Faculty of Orthodox Theology ‘Andrei Saguna‘, Sibiu, Romania. Thesis title: ‘Fundamentals of Canon Theology in the Diaspora, with special reference to Italy.’

III. Pastoral and liturgical ministry

  • 4 December 2008 – Tonsured as a Rassophore and received the name of Dionisie, in honour of Saint Dionysius Exiguus;
  • 17 January 2009 – Ordained as a Deacon;
  • 16 April 2009 – Ordained as a Priest for the Church of the ‘Dormition of the Mother of God‘ Monastery, within the diocesan headquarters in Rome;
  • 21 April 2011 – Tonsured as a Hieromonk for the Bivongi Monastery in Calabria, receiving the name of Atanasie, in honour of Saint Athanasius the Great;
  • 15 August 2011 – Elevated to Protosyngellos;
  • 15 August 2013 – Elevated to Archimandrite (Upon the decision of the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church, number 7124 of 10 July 2013);
  • 2009 to 2018 – Sacerdotal ministry and pastoral care at the Church of the ‘Dormition of the Mother of God‘ Monastery, within the diocesan headquarters in Rome;
  • 1 May 2018 – Ordained as Auxiliary Bishop for the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Italy, with the title ‘de Bogdania‘;
  • 25 October 2024 – elected as Archbishop of the Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (Upon the decision of the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church, no. 10.240 of 28 October 2024);
  • 10 May 2025 – enthroned as the first Archbishop of the Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, at St. George Cathedral, London.

IV. Administrative duties and achievements

  • 06/2008 to 09/2009 – Diocesan Secretary of the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Italy;
  • 09/2009 to 02/2011 – Diocesan Advisor, within the Church Administration Department, of the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Italy;
  • 02/2011 to 02/2013 – Exarch of the Monasteries, within the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Italy;
  • 02/2011 to 04/2018 – Diocesan Vicar of the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Italy (*Due to the unique particularities of the Romanian Orthodox Church in Diaspora, from 2011 to 2013, he bears two roles, Diocesan Vicar and Exarch of the Monasteries);
  • 01/2015 to 04/2018 – Locum tenens of the position of Exarch of the Monasteries, within the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Italy;
  • 02/2012 – 2024 – Coordinates the ‘Holy Hierarch Nicholas Mission‘, for the Basarabians and Bukovinians from Northern Bukovina within the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Italy;
  • 2009 – 2024 – Coordinates the Diocesan Chancellery of the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Italy.

V. Cultural, educational, and church representative role

  • Speaks at numerous TV and Radio shows, hosted by various channels – Radio Trinitas, Trinitas TV, Radio Romania Actualitati, Radio România Internațional, Vocea Basarabiei, RAI, TVR, Casa Mia TV, Romit TV, KTO France, Doxologia, etc.
  • Offers interviews to various newspapers and Radio stations, in both Romania and abroad (Republic of Moldova, France, Italy and the UK);
  • Participates in numerous religious and cultural events in Romania, France, Italy and the UK;
  • Participated as a representative of the Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the Romanian Orthodox Metropolis of Western and Southern Europe, the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Italy, and the Romanian Orthodox Patriarchate at numerous inter-Orthodox, inter-Christian, and ecumenical events;
  • Holds numerous conferences and thematic workshops within:
    • The Congresses of the Romanian Orthodox Metropolis of Western and Southern Europe;
    • Nepsis Congresses, for both Italy and the Metropolitan level;
    • Biannual Archdiocesan Pastoral Conferences (France, Italy, and the UK);
    • Youth regional gatherings and summer camps, organised by the Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Romanian Orthodox Metropolis of Western and Southern Europe, the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Italy;
    • Various ASCOR (Association of the Romanian Christian Orthodox Students) branches in Romania;
    • Parishes and at Deaneries, on numerous occasions.
  • Represents the Romanian Orthodox Church on two occasions (2012 and 2016), at the International Meeting of all Benedictine Abbots, held in Rome, Italy;
  • Represents the Romanian Orthodox Church at the 15th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops (Vatican, October 2018);
  • Provides the official translation during the visit of His Holiness Pope Francis at the Patriarchal Palace, and at the National Cathedral (Bucharest, May 2019);
  • Represents the Romanian Orthodox Church, on four occasions (2014, 2015, 2018, and 2024), at the Bose International Ecumenical Conference on Orthodox Spirituality;

VI. Published scientific activity

  • 2008 – Builds and launches the very first website of the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Italy, and of the Italian Nepsis Youth Fraternity, bearing also the responsibility of article/content publishing;
  • 2011 – Elaborates ‘Beneficial sayings for times of trial, in ten chapters, nourishing for the soul‘, an anthology of sayings from the Holy Fathers, published under the aegis of the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Italy, Rome;
  • 2010 to 2016 – Plays an important role in the publishing process of numerous editions of the catechetical and pastoral booklet, ‘Food for the Soul‘, of the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Italy;
  • 2008 to 2018 – Coordinates the editorial activity of the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Italy;
    • the editing of the Diocesan Calendars;
    • the editing of the ‘Calendar of All Saints throughout the year and the places in Italy where their relics can be honoured‘;
    • various catechetical and thematic brochures.
  • 2014 – 2024 – Vice President of the APOSTOLIA Magazine (the Italian edition), under the patronage of the Romanian Orthodox Metropolis of Western and Southern Europe, where he published numerous articles;
  • 2015 – present – vice president of the English edition of the APOSTOLIA Magazine, for Great Britain and Ireland, where he frequently publishes articles;
  • 2021 – 2024 – Vice President of the Theologica Magazine, of the Centre for Theological Studies Saint Dionysius Exiguus, where he published numerous articles;
  • 2022 – 2024 – Partner of the Orthodox Christian Portal Theofania, of the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Italy;
  • Publishes editorials, reports, articles, and studies, in the ecclesiastical press, as well as in the homage, anniversary, or thematic volumes;
    • Numerous articles in the APOSTOLIA Magazine, under the patronage of the Romanian Orthodox Metropolis of Western and Southern Europe (dealing with the dialogue between theology and science, pastoral, parenesis, sermons, reports, essays, and novelettes);
    • Articles in the Romanian Orthodox Church Magazine (BOR);
    • Articles in the Theologica Magazine;
    • Monography of the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Italy, in the volume ‘Autocephaly and Responsibility‘, Basilica Publishing House of the Romanian Patriarchate, 2010;
    • ‘Canonical and legal particularities in the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Italy / The challenges of the Orthodox Diaspora‘, in the volume ‘Ius Ecclesiasticum / In the life of the Church‘, Collection Studia Canonica, Bucharest, Basilica Publishing House – 2019;
    • ‘Pastorship of the Romanians Orthodox from the Italian Peninsula | Beginnings. Requirements. Continuity‘, in the volume ‘Pastorship of the Romanians outside Romania: ecclesial responsibility and ethnic unity‘, Bucharest – 2021;
    • ‘The Church in the Italian Diaspora – Encounter with Christ and Self-Finding‘, in the volume ‘Romanian Diaspora – Testimonies and evocations‘, Suceava, Crimca Publishing House – 2021;
    • ‘Orthodox Monasticism: essential aspect of the mission in the West‘, in the volume ‘Ways of organisation and functionality of the Orthodox Monasticism: a two millennia tradition and contemporary challenges‘, Studia Canonica Collection, Bucharest, Basilica Publishing House – 2024;
  • Holds seminaries on Church Administration at the ‘Dumitru Stăniloae Studies and Research Centre‘ in Paris;
  • Holds seminaries, conferences, and training courses for clergy, on various topics at the ‘Saint Dionysius Exiguus Study Centre‘ of the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Italy, and at the ‘Dumitru Stăniloae Centre‘ of the Romanian Orthodox Metropolis of Western and Southern Europe;
  • Takes part in numerous international conferences and symposia, including:
    • ‘Dionysian Colloquia‘ (on Canon Law) – Italy (5 editions, between 2010 – 2014);
    • ‘Together for Athos‘ – Rome, Italy (4 editions);
    • ‘Homologhia e Martyrion‘, Stilo, Italy – 2019;
    • ‘Forms of organisation of Orthodox monasticism: bimillenary tradition and contemporary challenges’ – Bucharest (24-26 May 2021);
    • ‘Pastoring the Romanians outside Romania: ecclesial responsibility and ethnic unity‘ – Bucharest (8-11 December 2021);
    • ‘European Conference of Medicine and Christian Spirituality‘ – Monza, Italy (20-30 May 2022);
    • ‘Canon Theology and Church Law in Orthodoxy‘ – Bucharest (20-21 September 2023);
    • ‘Identity, faith, and experience in the context of the diaspora’, Synaxis – Craiova (10 April 2025).
  • Language skills:
    • Mother tongue(s): Romanian;
    • Other Language(s): Italian, French, English and Russian.

VII. Honours and titles

  • Cross of the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Italy – 6 December 2016;
  • Order of Holy Apostle Andrew – conferred by His Beatitude Daniel, Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church, within the event of the consecration of the National Cathedral (25 November 2018);
  • Engolpion and Anniversary Diploma, within the event of the centenary anniversary of the Great Union – conferred by His Eminence Irineu, Archbishop of Alba Iulia (2018);
  • Honorary Citizenship of Bivongi (Italy) – 23 February 2020;
  • The Eparchial Distinction of Holy Hierarch Sava Brancovici – conferred by His Eminence Timotei, Archbishop of Arad (2020);
  • National Order ‘For Merit‘ in the rank of Knight, conferred by Klaus Iohannis, the President of Romania – 6 August 2020;
  • Order of Holy Venerable John Jacob of Neamț, the new hozevit – conferred by His Beatitude Daniel, Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church (17 December 2021);
  • Order of Bishop Roman Ciorogariu – conferred by His Grace Sofronie, Bishop of Oradea (2022);
  • Order of the Mother of God the Supplicant – conferred by His Beatitude Daniel, Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church (30 September 2022);
  • Order of Saint Demetrius the New – conferred by His Beatitude Daniel, Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church (13 July 2024);
  • Order of Metropolitan Visarion Puiu – conferred by His Eminence Metropolitan Iosif, Paris (9 November 2024).

VIII. Affiliations

  • Founding member of the charitable association of the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Italy – San Lorenzo dei Romeni, ONLUS;
  • Member of the Commission for Dialogue between Theology and Science of the Romanian Orthodox Metropolis of Western and Southern Europe;
  • Member of the Society for Canon Law of the Eastern Churches (since 2019);
  • Member of the Commission for External Church Relations of the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church (since 2025);
  • Member of the Assembly of Orthodox Bishops of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (since 2025).