Bishop Andrei (Hoarste)
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Bishop Andrei (Hoarște) (1982-____)
Early life of Dan Hoarște
In 1982, Dan Hoarște was born into an Orthodox Christian family in Făgăraș, Brașov County, Romania. Făgăraș, near the geographical centre of Romania, is situated in the northern foothills of the Făgăraș Mountains, 256 km (160 mi) northwest of Bucharest, 66 km (41 mi) west of Brașov and 76 km (47 mi) east of Sibiu.
In Făgăraș, Dan received his formation within the bosom of the Romanian Orthodox Church.
There, he also completed his primary education, and the first part of his secondary education.
Emigration to North America, 1997
In 1997, when he was at the age of 15, Dan Hoarște emigrated with his family to the USA. There, they established their home in Dearborn Heights, Michigan, where they became active members of Saints Peter and Paul Romanian Orthodox Church (a parish of the Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America (ROEA) within The Orthodox Church in America (OCA)).
While Dan was completing his high school and undergraduate studies, he was active in the life of the parish and of the Romanian Orthodox Episcopate. During this time, he served as the 37th President of the American Romanian Orthodox Youth (AROY), the international youth auxiliary of the ROEA, which provides many sorts of educational support to young people.
Saints Peter and Paul Temple, Dearborn Heights, Michigan
Higher education
In September 2004, with the blessing of Archbishop Nathaniel (Popp), Dan Hoarște began his theological studies at Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in Brookline, Massachusetts. He graduated in 2008 with a Master of Divinity (M.Div.) degree, while he was simultaneously working towards the Master of Theology (M.Th.) degree.
In October 2010, Dan commenced doctoral studies at the Pontifical Oriental Institute in Rome, Italy, where he earned a Doctorate of Theology (Th.D.) degree in June, 2019. His field of concentration was in dogmatic/liturgical studies.
Ordinations, 2012
In September, 2012, Dan Hoarște was ordained to the Holy Diaconate by Archbishop Nathaniel (Popp).
In December, 2012, Deacon Dan Hoarște was ordained to the Holy Priesthood by Archbishop Nathaniel (Popp).
Pastoral service
The Priest Dan Hoarște was assigned to the chapel of the "Vatra" (meaning "hearth", the administrative centre of the Romanian Episcopate at Grass Lake, Michigan).
The Vatra, Grass Lake, Michigan, Administration Building
In 2013, Priest Dan Hoarște was also assigned to lead the Department of Youth and Young Adult Ministry.
In 2014, Priest Dan Hoarște was assigned to serve both as Vicar of Canada, and to assist the archbishop with the administrative and pastoral responsibilities of the Romanian Episcopate.
On 31 August, 2019, at the request of Archbishop Nathaniel and in accordance with the ROEA By-Laws, the Church Congress of the Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America in Special Electoral Session elected Priest Dan Hoarște to be a candidate for the office of Auxiliary Bishop.
Monastic tonsure, 2019
On 13 October, 2019, Priest Dan Hoarște was tonsured to be a monk, and he was given the name Andrei.
Hieromonk Andrei (Hoarște) was then elevated to the dignity of archimandrite.
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Archimandrite Andrei (Hoarște)
On Tuesday, 12 November, 2019, the Holy Synod of Bishops of The Orthodox Church in America elected Archimandrite Andrei (Hoarște) to become the Bishop of Cleveland and Vicar-Bishop (Auxiliary Bishop) of the Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America. He became known as Bishop-elect of Cleveland (Ohio).
On 31 January, 2020, in Saint George’s Cathedral in Southfield, Michigan, Archimandrite Andrei (Hoarște) celebrated Great Vespers for the feast of Holy Martyr Tryphon. Immediately following Great Vespers, Metropolitan Tikhon (Mollard), together with the other bishops present, served the Office of the Nomination and Proclamation of a Bishop. It began after Archpriest Laurence Lazar (Dean of Saint George Cathedral and Secretary of the Episcopate Council) read the official announcement of the election.
Saint George Romanian Cathedral, Southfield, Michigan
Episcopal ordination, 2020
On 1 February, 2020, Archimandrite Andrei (Hoarște) was ordained to the Holy Episcopate at the Romanian Orthodox Cathedral of Saint George in Southfield, Michigan. He was ordained by Metropolitan Tikhon (Mollard) ; Archbishop Nathaniel (Popp) ; Metropolitan Gregory (Tatsis) of Nyssa (of the American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese of North America) ; Metropolitan Nicolae (Condrea) (of the Romanian Orthodox Metropolia of America and Canada of the Patriarchate of Romania) ; Archbishop Benjamin (Peterson) of San Francisco ; Archbishop Irénée (Rochon) of Ottawa ; Archbishop Michael (Dahulich) of New York ; Archbishop Alexander (Golitzin) of Dallas ; Archbishop David (Mahaffey) of Sitka ; Bishop Paul (Gassios) of Chicago ; and Bishop Alexis (Trader) of Bethesda.
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Bishop Andrei (Hoarște) with ordaining bishops
Episcopal service
Bishop Andrei (Hoarște) began his episcopal service after the ordination.
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Bishop Andrei (Hoarște)
His cathedral parish is that of Saint Mary (Dormition of the Mother of God) in Cleveland, Ohio (the oldest Romanian Orthodox Temple in the USA).
Saint Mary Cathedral, Cleveland, Ohio
After this, Vladica Andrei resided at "Vatra Românească". He continued to be involved in the day-to-day administration of the Romanian Episcopate, through overseeing activities as requested of him by Archbishop Nathaniel.
In addition to his other responsibilities at the Vatra, Bishop Andrei (Hoarște) continued on in his responsibilities as Vicar for the Parishes of the Romanian Episcopate in Canada.
Very soon after the ordination, the spread of the Covid-19 Virus caused severe limitations by government authorities on travel and public services in parishes. Thus, the usual visitations to the cathedral and to various parishes in the Episcopate were severely limited.
Archpastoral visitation to Holy Bishop Nicholas Church in Ottawa, Ontario, 2023
On 11 February, 2023, with the blessing of Archbishop Nathaniel, Bishop Andrei visited the parish of Holy Bishop Nicholas in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. There, he served for the initial blessing (Opening the Doors) of the Temple. Afterwards, he celebrated the first Divine Liturgy in the community's newly-constructed Temple, together with parish pastor, Archpriest Mircea Daniel Banu ; Priest George Bogdan Diaconescu (attached), and several visiting clergy.
New Temple of Saint Nicholas, Ottawa
Serving in the new Temple in Ottawa
Archpastoral visitation to Saint Nicholas Church in Montréal, Québec, 2023
On 12 February, 2023, with the blessing of Archbishop Nathaniel, Bishop Andrei celebrated the Divine Liturgy at Saint Nicholas Church in Montréal, Québec , Canada, together with the parish pastor, Priest Gabriel Alexe, Deacon Andrei Cretu of the parish, and several other visiting clergy. Later that day, Vladica Andrei celebrated a marriage blessing on the occasion of Father and Preoteasa Alexe's 25th wedding anniversary.
Homily at Saint Nicholas, Montréal (left) Great Entrance at the Divine Liturgy (right)
20th Annual ROEA Clergy Conference-Retreat, 2023
On 13-17 February 2023, the 20th Annual ROEA Clergy "Confertreat" took place in Phoenix/Scottsdale, Arizona. Joining Archbishop Nathaniel and Bishop Andrei were clergy (along with some of their wives) from across the continent.
Presenters included Father Evan Armatas, author and Ancient Faith Radio host ; Father Steven Voytovich (Chaplaincy Director for the Orthodox Church in America and former Dean of Saint Tikhon's Seminary) ; Steven Christoforou (Director of Community Engagement for FOCUS North America, and former Director of Youth & Young Adult Ministries for the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America) ; John Maddex (former Director of Ancient Faith Radio) ; and Kenneth Liu (Director of Youth & Young Adult Ministries for the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America).
Vladica Andrei with Archbishop Nathaniel, clergy and speakers
References
Biography on the ROEA web-site
Additional information :
Bobango, Gerald J, “The Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America : The first half Century, 1929-1979” (Jackson, MI : Romanian-American Heritage Center, 1979). ASIN : B0000EBRQ6.
Bugea, Eleanor, “Romanians in Canada” (Michigan : Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America, 2009). ISBN : 978-1-929200-14-6. [History of St Nicholas, pp. 93-104.]
Tarasar, Constance J, ed., “Orthodox America 1794-1976 : Development of The Orthodox Church in America” (Syosset, NY : The Orthodox Church in America Department of History and Archives, 1975). ASIN : B000ZLZAUE.
Orthodox Church in America listing
Orthodoxwiki article about The Orthodox Church in America
Orthodoxwiki article about the Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America
The Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America web-site
Facebook news about the Romanian Episcopate of America
Orthodoxwiki article about the Orthodox Church of Romania
Wikipedia article about the Romanian diaspora
Romanian Orthodox Vicariate of Canada
Announcement of the episcopal ordination in “Orthodoxy in America” (30 January, 2020)
Facebook Video of the episcopal ordination (1 February, 2020)
YouTube Video of the episcopal ordination (1 February, 2020)
‘Dearborn Heights man ordained as Auxiliary Bishop of the Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America’ in “Press and Guide” (8 February, 2020)
Archpastoral Visit of Bishop Andrei (Hoarște) to Saint Nicholas Romanian Orthodox Church in Ottawa, Ontario (11 February, 2023)
Archpastoral visitation to Saint Nicholas Church in Montréal, Québec (12 February, 2023)
20th Annual ROEA Clergy Conference-Retreat (13-17 February, 2023)