Iosif

BIOGRAPHICAL DATA

• He was born on 19 February 1966, son of Gheorghe and Floarea Pop, in Vișeul de Jos, Maramureș County. He was baptized Ilie.

TRAINING AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

• 1989-1993 – studies at the University Theological Institute / Faculty of Orthodox Theology “Andrei Saguna” in Sibiu;
• 19 October 1993 – ordained a celibate deacon, and on 26 October 1993 ordained a priest at the Chapel of the Faculty of Orthodox Theology in Alba Iulia, by His Eminence Andrei, Archbishop of Alba Iulia;
• 1993-1994 – He serves as: professor of Universal Church History and Patristics at the Orthodox Theological Seminary in Alba Iulia, assistant professor of Ethical Theology at the Faculty of Orthodox Theology in Alba Iulia and spiritual father of the students of the Faculty of Orthodox Theology in Alba Iulia;
• 17 April 1994 – enters the monastic order;
• 1994-1997 – doctoral studies at the Institute of Orthodox Theology “Saint Serge” in Paris;
• 29 November 1997 – elected Archbishop by the General Assembly of the Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese of Western and Southern Europe;
• 11 December 1997 – his election as Archbishop is ratified in the working session of the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church and he is ordained archimandrite by His Eminence Seraphim, Romanian Orthodox Metropolitan of Germany, Central and Northern Europe;
• 15 March 1998 – ordained Archbishop in the Greek Cathedral of St. Stephen in Paris by His Eminence Seraphim, Romanian Orthodox Metropolitan of Germany, Central and Northern Europe;
• 21 October 2001 – following the elevation of the Archdiocese of Western and Southern Europe to the rank of Metropolis, he is appointed Metropolitan of Western and Southern Europe.