Varsanufie

BIOGRAPHICAL DATA

• He was born on 24 January 1968, son of Petre-Vasile and Domnica Gogescu, in Bucharest. He was baptized with the name Valentin.

EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

• 1985-1990 – pupil at the Orthodox Theological Seminary in Bucharest;
• 1990-1994 – studies at the Faculty of Orthodox Theology “Justinian the Patriarch” in Bucharest, obtaining the title of Bachelor in Theology with the thesis entitled Cinstirea sfintelor icoane după Sfântul Ioan Damaschin (The Veneration of Holy Icons according to Saint John of Damascus);
• 1990-1998 – is a religion teacher at schools: no. 206 – “Saint Stelian“, no. 191 – “Saint George”, no. 172 – “Saint Andrew” and no. 176 – “Saints Emperors Constantine and Helena” in Bucharest;
• 1993-1996 – editor of the Orthodox apologetics journal Martyria;
• 1994-1997 – edits the children’s journal Floarea Darurilor (The Flower of the Gifts);
• 1995-1998 –pedagogical practice supervisor for the Religion course at the “Elena Cuza” National College in Bucharest;
• 1996-1999 – Editor of the Orthodox Press Agency “PRAXIS”;
• 1997-1998 – works as a teacher of Methodology of Religion for 6^th Sector of Bucharest;
• 1998 – he enters the monastic life and tonsured into monasticism at Slănic Monastery, Argeș County, receiving the name Varsanufie;
• 1998 – he is ordained hierodeacon, then hieromonk for the Radu Vodă Monastery in Bucharest, by His Grace Teodosie of Snagov, Assistant-Bishop of the Archdiocese of Bucharest;
• 1998-2014 – teacher of New Testament at the Orthodox High School Theological Seminary “Nifon Mitropolitul” in Bucharest;
• 1999-2001 – serves as exarch of the Archdiocese of Bucharest;
• 1999-2001 – is the spiritual father of the Orthodox Theological Seminary “Nifon Mitropolitul” in Bucharest;
• 1999-2006 – is abbot of the Radu Vodă Monastery in Bucharest;
• 2000 – is raised to the rank of protosyncellus by His Grace Teodosie of Snagov, Assistant-Bishop of the Archdiocese of Bucharest, at Radu Vodă Monastery in Bucharest;
• 2000-2001 – Counsellor for Educational and Spiritual Activity with the honorary rank of Deputy Director of the Orthodox Theological High School Seminary “Nifon Mitropolitul” in Bucharest;
• 2001 – is raised to the rank of archimandrite by His Eminence Teofan Savu, Metropolitan of Oltenia, in the Saint Spyridon – New Cathedral in Bucharest;
• 2001 – is elected and ordained Assistant-Bishop of the Archdiocese of Bucharest, with the title of Prahova (Prahoveanul), at the proposal of His Beatitude Patriarch Teoctist, in the Saint Spyridon – New Cathedral in Bucharest;
• 2002-2004 – MA Studies in Theology at the Faculty of Orthodox Theology, “Ovidius” University, Constanța, defending his thesis entitled Voturile monahale în Biserica Ortodoxă în lumina Sfinților Părinți (Monastic Vows in the Orthodox Church in the Light of the Holy Fathers);
• 2007-2014 – serves as the Secretary of the Metropolitan Synod of the Metropolis of Wallachia and Dobrudja and President of the Liturgical Commission of the Archdiocese of Bucharest;
• 2008-2014 – Director of the Publishing House Cuvântul Vieții of the Archdiocese of Bucharest;
• 2010-2013 – attends doctoral studies at the Faculty of Orthodox Theology in Craiova;
• 2013 – defends his doctoral thesis at the Faculty of Orthodox Theology in Craiova, entitled: Lucrarea harului dumnezeiesc în teologia Sfântului Grigorie Palama (The Work of Divine Grace in the Theology of Saint Gregory Palamas) under the supervision of His Eminence Irineu Popa, Metropolitan of Oltenia;
• 8 June 2014 – is enthroned as Archbishop of Râmnic, by His Eminence Irineu Popa, Metropolitan of Oltenia, at the Archiepiscopal Cathedral of Râmnicu-Vâlcea.