Nichifor Botoșăneanul

BIOGRAPHICAL DATA

• He was born on 14 November 1967, son of Dumitru and Viorica Horia, in Brăila. He was baptized Nicolae.

EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

• 1978-1982 – Pupil at General School No. 38 in Galați;
• 1982-1986 – pupil at the “Bogdan Petriceicu Hașdeu” Mathematics-Physics High School in Buzău;
• 1987-1988 – military training in Brăila;
• 1988-1993 – attends undergraduate studies at the University of Galați, Faculty of Mechanics, Specialization “Thermal Machines” – day engineers, where he defends his bachelor’s thesis entitled: “Design of the MAN internal combustion engine, 6 cylinders in line” (“Proiectarea motorului cu ardere internă MAN, 6 cilindri în linie“);
• 1993 – enters the monastic life in the Sihla Skete of Sihăstria Monastery, Neamț County;
• 23 December 1995 – he was tonsured into monasticism, receiving the name Nichifor;
• 1993-1997 – he studies at the Faculty of Orthodox Theology “Dumitru Stăniloae” of the “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University of Jassy, Pastoral Department, defending his bachelor’s thesis entitled: “The Relationship between the Father and the Spiritual Son in the Sayings of the Fathers of the Egyptian Fathers” (Relaţia părinte-fiu duhovnicesc în Patericul Egiptean);
• 28 January 1996 – he was ordained hierodeacon in the Metropolitan Cathedral of Jassy by His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel (at that time Metropolitan of Moldavia and Bucovina), for the Metropolitan Cathedral;
• 2 February 1996 – he was ordained hieromonk in the Metropolitan Cathedral of Jassy by His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel, for the Monastery of the Holy Three Hierarchs of Jassy;
• 20 June 2001 – he was appointed hegumen of the Monastery of Saints Three Hierarchs of Jassy, an office he held until his ordination as hierarch;
• 30 January 2004 – he is elevated to the rank of protosyncellus by His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel;
• February 2004 – Graduates from the advanced training course for museographers and guides in ecclesiastical museums;
• 2 January 2009 – ordained archimandrite by His Eminence Teofan Savu, Metropolitan of Moldavia and Bukovina;
• 2008-2010 – he attends MA courses at the Faculty of Orthodox Theology “Dumitru Stăniloae” of the “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University of Jassy, Department of Liturgics, finalized by the presentation of the dissertation entitled: “Methods and Pastoral Means used by St. Nicodemus the Aghiorite and Father Petre Vintilescu” (“Metode şi mijloace pastorale utilizate de Sfântul Nicodim Aghioritul şi de Părintele Petre Vintilescu“);
• 2009 – March 2021 – serves as Exarch of the monasteries of the Archdiocese of Jassy;
• 2013-2016 – attends the Doctoral School of the Faculty of Orthodox Theology “Dumitru Stăniloae” of the “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University of Jassy, obtaining the title of Doctor of Theology with the thesis: “The Practice of Exorcism in the Orthodox Church. Liturgical, Canonical and Pastoral Aspects” (“Practica exorcizării în Biserica Ortodoxă. Aspecte liturgice, canonice şi pastorale”), under the guidance of Prof. Dr. Viorel Sava;
• 25 February 2021 – is elected by the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church as Assistant-Bishop of the Archdiocese of Jassy, with the title of Botoșăneanul (of Botoșani);
• 7 March 2021 – he is ordained to the priesthood in the Metropolitan Cathedral of Jassy by His Eminence Teofan Savu, Metropolitan of Moldavia and Bucovina, together with seven hierarchs.