Atanasie

BIOGRAPHICAL DATA

• He was born on 17 January 1982 in Chișinău (Soviet Union, now 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.