Mitropolitan Decree

In accordance with art. 10, letr. a, of the Canonical Statute of the Romanian Orthodox Metropolis of Western and Southern Europe, during the working session of the Metropolitan Synod on May 26, 2023, the proposal to establish the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Great Britain was made. The Archdiocesan Assembly of the Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese of Western Europe, on June 26, 2023, gave its favourable vote. Hence, the Metropolitan Synod of the Metropolis of Western and Southern Europe also proposed, and the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church, in its working session on February 29, 2024, by Decision 1716/2024, approved the establishment of the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Great Britain, which was later elevated to the rank of Archdiocese, named the Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, during the working session of the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church on July 12, 2024, by Decision 6944, within the Romanian Orthodox Metropolis of Western and Southern Europe, as an integral part of the Romanian Orthodox Church.

As a minister in Christ’s Church, serving as a Metropolitan, and guided by the canonical duty not to leave the Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese of Great Britain and Northern Ireland without a shepherd, based on art. 8 and 132.1 of the Statute for the Organization and Functioning of the Romanian Orthodox Church, and in accordance with art. 30–36 of the Statute of the Metropolis of Western and Southern Europe, on October 13, 2024, we assembled the Metropolitan Synod of the Metropolis of Western and Southern Europe at the Archdiocesan Cathedral in London. The Synod designated two suitable candidates for the position of archbishop of the newly established Archdiocese. The Archdiocesan Assembly of the Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, convened on the same date in London, confirmed the proposals of the Metropolitan Synod.

Fulfilling this statutory procedure and mindful of the responsibilities incumbent upon us, we submitted this proposal to the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church, during its working session on October 25, 2024. After the Te Deum (Thanksgiving) service was officiated in the Europa Christiana Hall of the Romanian Patriarchate, and following the vote, the hierarchs of the Holy Synod elected His Grace Atanasie of Bogdania, Auxiliary Bishop of the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Italy, to the vacant seat of the Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Born in Chișinău on January 17, 1982, as the first of two sons of Eugen and Ala Rusnac, he was given the name Tudor at baptism. After an academic career in the field of engineering and applied sciences at the ‘Institut National des Sciences Appliqués de Lyon’ in France, he obtained a Master’s degree in Engineering, specializing in Telecommunications and Networks, and went on to work in the IT field at prestigious financial institutions in France.

From a young age, he felt the calling to serve the Church and to study theology. He fulfilled this calling by earning a bachelor’s degree from the ‘Saint-Serge’ Institute of Orthodox Theology in Paris in 2010, and a master’s degree in Orthodox Theology (Canon Law) from the ‘Andrei Șaguna’ Faculty of Theology in Sibiu in 2012. He was tonsured as a Rassophore on December 4, 2008, receiving the name Dionisie, in honour of Saint Dionysius Exiguus. On April 21, 2011, he was tonsured a monk at the monastery in Bivongi, Italy, receiving the name Atanasie, in honour of Saint Athanasius the Great of Alexandria. He was ordained a deacon on January 17, 2009, and a priest on April 16, 2009, serving at the Diocesan Centre and ‘Dormition of the Mother of God’ Monastery in Rome – Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Italy. On August 15, 2011, he was elevated to the rank of Protosinghelos, and on August 15, 2013, he was elevated to the rank of Archimandrite, according to Synodal Decision 7124 of July 10, 2013. At the proposal of His Grace Bishop Siluan and the Metropolitan Synod, and with the election by the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church, he was ordained auxiliary bishop of the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Italy, with the title ‘of Bogdania,’ on May 1, 2018. During the working session of the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church on October 25, 2024, he was elected as the first archbishop of the newly established Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (Synodal Decision no. 10.240 of October 28, 2024).

Based on the Holy Canons, the provisions of art. 133.2 of the Statute for the Organization and Functioning of the Romanian Orthodox Church, and art. 38 of the Canonical Statute of the Romanian Orthodox Metropolis of Western and Southern Europe, we hereby announce this METROPOLITAN DECREE, by which we grant to the elected Archbishop, His Eminence Atanasie, the canonical authority to rule as Archbishop of the God-protected Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. This includes all parishes and monasteries within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. This serves as testimony that His Eminence, having received jurisdiction as Archbishop of the Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, has the right and authority to appoint, according to the ordinances of our Holy Church and in conformity with the Statute for the Organization and Functioning of the Romanian Orthodox Church, the Canonical Statute of the Romanian Orthodox Metropolis of Western and Southern Europe, and the Statute for the Organization and Functioning of the Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: readers, chanters, subdeacons, deacons, and priests for all churches within His Eminence’s Archdiocese; as well as abbots and abbesses, hegumens and hegumenesses for the monasteries and sketes; and to decide all matters proper to his office as hierarch for the spiritual benefit of the Archdiocese he shepherds (rules) on the path of salvation.

His Eminence is obligated to preserve the Orthodox faith of Christ’s Church without alteration, to show self-sacrifice in pastoral and missionary work and in philanthropic efforts, to care for the establishment of new parishes and monastic settlements, and to give special attention to the pastoral care of children and youth, families, the elderly and the sick, as well as those who are homeless and in need.

We encourage His Eminence to diligently work toward strengthening the spiritual unity of all the faithful and clergy of this Archdiocese, and to maintain fraternal and communal relations with the other Orthodox dioceses in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

At the same time, we encourage His Eminence to support the efforts made toward Christian unity and to promote dialogue with other churches and Christian communities.

We expect from His Eminence to show respect and obedience towards the Metropolitan Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Metropolis of Western and Southern Europe and towards the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church.

Given the episcopal ministry entrusted to him, as well as the rights and responsibilities set forth by the Statute for the Organization and Functioning of the Romanian Orthodox Church, the Canonical Statute of the Romanian Orthodox Metropolis of Western and Southern Europe, and the Statute for the Organization and Functioning of the Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, we hereby make known to all that His Eminence Archbishop Atanasie is the sole canonical and lawful Ruling Hierarch of the Romanian Orthodox clergy and faithful—including those of Bessarabian and Bukovinian origin—within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, as well as of the clergy and faithful received into the communities of the Archdiocese.

Therefore, to all the clergy and monks, as well as to the faithful Christians within the Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, we lovingly recommend His Eminence Archbishop Atanasie as their canonical Ruling Hierarch, calling upon them to welcome him with filial love, to obey him, and to honour him, showing him support and cooperation in all circumstances.

Thus, with one mind and one heart, let us glorify in perfect harmony the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, the Holy Trinity, one in essence and inseparable. Amen!

Issued in the Metropolitan residence in Paris, 10^th of May, on the feast day of Holy Apostle Simon the Zealot and Saints Hesychius the Confessor and Laurence, in the twenty-seventh year of our pastoral ministry as Archbishop and Metropolitan of the Romanian Orthodox Metropolis of Western and Southern Europe, in the year of salvation 2025.

† IOSIF
The Romanian Orthodox Archbishop of Western Europe, Romanian Orthodox Metropolitan of Western and Southern Europe