Nifon

BIOGRAPHICAL DATA

• He was born on 5 January 1944, son of Anghel and Maria Mihăiță, in Crețești – Vidra, Giurgiu County. He was baptized with the name Nicolae.

EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

• 1959-1964 – attends the Orthodox High School Theological Seminary in Bucharest;
• 1964-1968 – studies at the Theological Institute of University Degree in Bucharest;
• 1968-1971 – attends doctoral studies at the Theological Institute of University Degree in Bucharest;
• 1971-1974 – attends postgraduate doctoral studies at King’s College, University of London (UK);
• 1972 – attends post-graduate studies at the Anglican College in Jerusalem (Israel);
• 1977-1978 – attends postgraduate studies at the University of Geneva (Switzerland);
• 8 May 1980 – enters the monastic life at Cernica Monastery, Ilfov County;
• 15 May 1980 – is ordained a hieromonk by His Beatitude Patriarch Justin in the Patriarchal Cathedral in Bucharest, and on 16 July 1980 he is raised at the rank of archimandrite and invested at the Antim Monastery in Bucharest;
• 1981 – attends post-graduate studies at St. Paul Catholic University in Ottawa (Canada);
• 24 November 1985 – is ordained hierarch, as Patriarchal Assistant-Bishop, with the title of Ploiești (Ploieșteanul);
• 1985-1993 – serves as Secretary of the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church;
• 11 January 1994 – is elected by the Electoral College of the Church as Bishop of the newly established Diocese of Slobozia and Călărași;
• 1994 – defends his doctoral thesis at the University of Oradea, entitled Profetul Miheea. Introducere, Teologie și Exegeză (The Prophet Micah. Introduction, Theology and Exegesis);
• 14 December 1999 – is elected by the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church as Archbishop of Târgoviște, being enthroned on 26 December 1999;
• 2000-2003 – Associate Professor at the Faculty of Theology and Literature of “Valahia” University of Târgoviște;
• Since 2003 he has been Professor of Missiology and Ecumenism at the Faculty of Theology and Educational Sciences within “Valahia” University of Târgoviște;
• 7 March 2008 – The Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church grants him the title of Metropolitan ad personam, conferred publicly on 10 July 2008 in Târgovişte, by His Beatitude Daniel, Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church.