Abp. Timotei Marks 50 Years Since Episcopal Consecration
Abp. Timotei celebrated 50 years of episcopal ministry as he approaches his 90th birthday.
ARAD, ROMANIA — Abp. Timotei of the Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese of Arad marked 50 years since his episcopal consecration on Sunday, as he also prepares to celebrate his 90th birthday later this year, according to the Basilica News Agency.
Consecrated on February 8, 1976, as auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Timișoara and Caransebeș, he was elected Bishop of Arad in September 1984 and enthroned that December. In 2009, following the elevation of the Diocese of Arad to an Archdiocese, he was raised to the rank of Archbishop.
Born Traian Petru on June 4, 1936, in Timișoara, he studied theology in Bucharest and later in Switzerland, earning a doctorate in 1973 with a thesis on the Christology of St. Cyril of Alexandria. Tonsured a monk in 1969 at Hodoș-Bodrog Monastery, he received the name Timotei.
Over five decades, he has advanced theological education, church construction, and monastic renewal in western Romania. Patr. Daniel praised his enduring pastoral and cultural contributions, highlighting in particular the construction of Arad’s new Archiepiscopal Cathedral.
Previously, the UOJ reported that the primate of the UOC congratulated Metr. Arseniy on the 20th anniversary of his episcopal consecration.
