Patriarch Daniel of Romania congratulated Bishop Veniamin of Southern Bessarabia on June 11, the occasion of his 50th birthday.
In his letter, the Romanian Patriarch praised Bishop Veniamin’s dedication and accomplishments, calling him “a hierarch of accomplished deeds, a model for priests, and a support for the faithful in times of confusion.”
The message highlighted the bishop’s sustained efforts to strengthen religious and cultural life in the southern region of the Republic of Moldova.
Patriarch Daniel recalled the bishop’s early calling to the priesthood, his solid theological education, and his contributions to church administration and theological education in Bucharest.
Since he was appointed bishop in 2018, Bishop Veniamin has overseen the construction and restoration of churches, founded social and cultural centers, and supported educational and charitable programs.
The Patriarch expressed gratitude to God for the bishop’s ministry and prayed that Christ, the “Shepherd and Guardian of souls” (1 Peter 2:25), would continue to grant him strength in serving the Church and the Romanian people.
“Many and blessed years to Your Grace!” the message concluded.
Find below Patriarch Daniel’s full message:
To His Grace Veniamin,
Bishop of Southern Bessarabia
Your Grace,
On the occasion of Your Grace’s 50th birthday, we convey our heartfelt wishes for good health, spiritual abundance, and divine assistance from God in the tireless pastoral and missionary work you carry out in service to our Lord Jesus Christ and the Romanian Orthodox Church in the southern part of the Republic of Moldova.
Born in Puhoi, Anenii Noi District, Republic of Moldova, on June 11, 1975, you were called to the priestly ministry from a young age, and your response to this calling has been marked by dedication and responsibility.
With solid theological training, you became actively involved in church administration—as diocesan inspector, diocesan counsellor, and patriarchal counsellor—as well as in theological education, serving as an associate lecturer at the Faculty of Orthodox Theology “Patriarch Justinian” in Bucharest, thus contributing to the formation of new generations of theologians.
Since 2018, as Bishop of Southern Bessarabia, you have shown constant care for strengthening the religious and cultural life of Orthodox communities in your diocese, through the construction, renovation, and consecration of numerous places of worship, the establishment of socio-cultural centers, and the support of educational and philanthropic activities.
Through all your work in the blessed field of Bessarabia, you continually promote the unity of the Romanian people and the awareness of national identity, being a hierarch of accomplished deeds, a model for priests, and a source of support for the faithful who seek light in a time of confusion.
At this anniversary hour, we give thanks to God for the gifts poured out upon Your Grace and upon the clergy and faithful of the Diocese of Southern Bessarabia, and we pray to our Lord Jesus Christ, “the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls” (1 Peter 2:25), to continue granting you much help in your ministry to our Church and the Romanian people.
Many and blessed years to Your Grace!
With fatherly blessing and fraternal love in Christ,
† Daniel
Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church
Photo: Lumina Newspaper archive
Source: basilica.ro
