Bishop Irineu (Duvlea)

Bishop Irineu (Duvlea) of Dearborn Heights (1962-____)

Irineu may be spelt Ireneu, Irénée, Ireney, Irene, Irenaeos, Irenaeus.

Early life of Irineu Duvlea

Irineu Duvlea was born on 19 April, 1962 in Alba Iulia, Transylvania, Romania, the son of John and Aurelia Duvlea.

Irineu Duvlea was raised as an Orthodox Christian in his family, within the bosom of the Orthodox Church of Romania.

He completed his primary and secondary education in Alba Iulia.

Monastic life, 1980

In 1980, since he was inclined towards a monastic life, he entered the Brancoveanu Monastery at Sâmbãta de Sus in Brașov County, in Romania.

Brancoveanu Monastery, Sâmbãta de Sus

Higher education, 1981

In 1981, he entered the theological seminary in Cluj-Napoca.

Diaconal ordination, 1983

On 3 May, 1983, Irineu Duvlea was ordained to the Holy Diaconate.

Monastic tonsure, 1983

On 24 May, 1983, Deacon Irineu Duvlea was tonsured to be a monk by Bishop Lucian of Făgăraș, and he was given the name Irineu (named after a different saint from that of his baptism).

Presbyteral ordination, 1984

On 17 November, 1984, Hierodeacon Irineu (Duvlea) was ordained to the Holy Priesthood by Metropolitan Antonie (Plamadeala) of Transylvania at Holy Trinity Metropolitan Cathedral in Sibiu.

Holy Trinity Metropolitan Cathedral, Sibiu

Further education

After he completed his studies at the seminary in Cluj-Napoca in 1987, Hieromonk Irineu (Duvlea) continued his studies at the Andrei Saguna Faculty of Orthodox Theology in Sibiu. He graduated on the basis of his thesis entitled “Rules of Organisation and Function of Monasteries in the Romanian Orthodox Church”.

On 15 August, 1988, Hieromonk Irineu (Duvlea) was elevated to the dignity of protosyngelos (chancellor) by Metropolitan Antonie.

Pastoral service

On 1 January, 1993, Protosyngelos Irineu (Duvlea) was assigned to be the igumen (abbot) of the Brancoveanu Monastery, with the added duties as the exarch of the metropolitan in supervising the community life of 15 neighbouring monasteries and 10 sketes in much of Transylvania. During this time, Igumen Irineu tonsured 30 monks and 15 nuns, and he installed most of the abbots and abbesses of the monasteries in the Sibiu Diocese.

On 15 August, 1993, Igumen Irineu (Duvlea) was raised to the dignity of archimandrite during the consecration of a monastery by the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew (Archontonis) and Patriarch Teoctist (Arăpașu) of Romania.

On 24 September, 2000, the Holy Synod of Bishops of Romania awarded Archimandrite Irineu (Duvlea) the right to wear a mitre (a rare award in the Romanian Church) as archimandrite.

Petition to move to the USA, 2001

In fulfilment of the desire of Archbishop Nathaniel (Popp) to establish within the Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America (ROEA) a monastic presence in the Saint Andrew’s House - Centre for Orthodox Christian Studies in Detroit, Michigan, Archimandrite Irineu (Duvlea), with a group of monks, received a canonical release from the Patriarchate of Romania to move to the USA and to establish a monastic community at the Centre. On 23 February, 2001, Archimandrite Irineu was named the abbot of the new community, which was dedicated to the Holy Ascension.

Saint Andrew House, Holy Ascension Monastery

On 28 June, 2002, the Congress of the Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America (ROEA) chose Archimandrite Irineu to be the candidate for Vicar-Bishop within the ROEA. His selection was confirmed by the Holy Synod of Bishops of The Orthodox Church in America (OCA) on 24 July, 2002, during a special session of the 13th All-American Council of the OCA.

Episcopal ordination, 2002

On Saturday, 2 November, 2002, at the Cathedral of Saint George the Great-Martyr in Southfield/Detroit, Michigan, Archimandrite Irineu (Duvlea) was ordained to the Holy Episcopate by Metropolitan Herman (Swaiko) ; Archbishop Nathaniel (Popp) ; Metropolitan Christopher (Kovacevic) ; Archbishop Kyrill (Yonchev) ; Archbishop Nicolae (Condrea) ; Bishops Seraphim (Storheim) ; Bishop Demetri (Khoury) ; Bishop Nikon (Liolin).

Saint George Cathedral

Episcopal service

He was named the Bishop of Dearborn Heights, and he served as the Vicar-Bishop of the Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America.

After his ordination, Bishop Irineu (Duvlea) supervised activities and events as requested of him by Archbishop Nathaniel. Bishop Irineu travelled extensively throughout the continent, especially visiting the numerous mission communities, and paying attention to monastics. These travels included many of the Romanian Episcopate parishes in Canada.

In 2007, Bishop Irineu attended the funeral of Patriarch Teoktist of Romania in Bucharest.

In 2010, Bishop Irineu and Archbishop Nathaniel attended a meeting of Romanian bishops of Western Europe in Rome. Italy.

After some years, tensions began to grow because of his differences of opinion with the ruling bishop about the manner in which things ought to be done.

In 2015, Bishop Irineu was placed on a leave of absence during the course of an investigation regarding certain accusations that could bring about canonical discipline.

Deposition, 2017

On 27 June, 2017, it was announced that the Holy Synod of Bishops had met as a Synodal Spiritual Court in Rives Junction, Michigan, at which time the Holy Synod canonically deposed the Bishop Irineu (Duvlea), Vicar-Bishop of the ROEA, from the status and all sacred functions of the episcopacy, removed him from the ranks of the clergy, and returned him to the status of a lay-monk.

— Bishop of Dearborn Heights 2002-2017. Preceded by : Archbishop Nathaniel (Popp). Succeeded by : ___.

— Vicar-Bishop of the Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America 2002-2017.