Atanasie

BIOGRAPHICAL DATA

• He was born on 17 January 1982 in Chișinău, Republic of Moldova, son of Eugen and Ala Rusnac. He was baptised, receiving the name Tudor.

EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

• 2000 – graduates Real High School in Chișinău (Republic of Moldova), with a major in Mathematics and Physics;
• 2000-2005 – studies at the Institut National des Sciences Appliqués din Lyon (France), obtaining a Master’s degree in Engineering, specializing in Telecommunications and Networks;
• 2002 – Obtains the European Studies Certificate at INSA Lyon (France);
• July 2004 – January 2005 – attends an IT specialisation internship at MT System in Lyon (France);
• 2005-2008 – works in IT at BNP PARIBAS Bank (‘Groupe Arbitrage’, Paris Stock Exchange);
• 2006-2010 – studies at the Faculty of Orthodox Theology “Saint Serge” in Paris (France), Pastoral Theology Department;
• June 2008 – September 2009 – serves as Diocesan Secretary of the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Italy;
• 4 December 2008 – he is tonsured a rasophore and receives the name Dionisie;
• Since 2009 he coordinates the activities of the Diocesan Chancellery of the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Italy;
• 7 January 2009 – is ordained deacon;
• 16 April 2009 – is ordained priest at the chapel of the Diocesan Centre of the Dormition of the Theotokos Monastery in Rome (Italy);
• September 2009 – February 2011 – serves as Administrative – Ecclesiastical Councillor of the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Italy;
• 2009-2018 – Serves as a hieromonk at the Dormition of the Theotokos Monastery of the Diocesan Centre in Rome (Italy);
• 2010-2012 – MA in Practical Theology, specializing in Canonic Law, at the Faculty of Orthodox Theology “Andrei Șaguna” in Sibiu, completed with the dissertation thesis entitled: Principii de Teologie Canonică în Diaspora, cu referire specială la Italia (Principles of Canonic Theology in the Diaspora, with Special Reference to Italy);
• February 2011 – February 2013 – fulfils the duties of exarch of the monasteries of the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Italy;
• February 2011 – April 2018 – serves as diocesan vicar of the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Italy;
• 21 April 2011 – is tonsured a hieromonk at Bivongi Monastery, taking the name Atanasie;
• 15 august 2011 – is raised at the rank of protosyncellus;
• 15 August 2013 – is raised at the rank of archimandrite;
• January 2015 – April 2018 – substitutes the position of Exarch of the monasteries of the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Italy;
• 15 February 2018 – is elected by the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church as Assistant-Bishop of the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Italy, the diocese having the title Bogdania, being ordained on 1st May 2018.
• 25 October 2024 – is elected by the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church as Archbishop of the Great Britain and Northern Ireland.