View source for Irineu (Duvlea) of Dearborn Heights

His Grace, the Right Reverend '''Irineu (Duvlea) of Dearborn Heights''' is the [[auxiliary bishop]] to Archbishop [[Nathaniel (Popp) of Detroit|Nathaniel]] of Detroit of the [[Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America]] (ROEA), a [[diocese]] of the [[Orthodox Church in America]] (OCA).

==Life==
Irineu Duvlea was born on [[April 19]], 1962 in Alba Iulia, Transylvania, Romania, the son of John and Aurelia Duvlea. Inclined toward a monastic life, he entered the Brancoveanu Monastery at Sambata de Sus, Brasov County in Romania in 1980. In 1981, he entered the theological [[seminary]] in Cluj Napoca.  On [[May 3]], 1983, he was [[ordination|ordained]] a [[deacon]], followed on [[May 24]], 1983 when he was [[tonsure]]d a [[monk]] by Bishop Lucian of Fagaras. On [[November 17]], 1984, Dn. Irineu was ordained a [[hieromonk]] by Metr. Antonie of Transylvania at the Metropolitan Cathedral in Sibiu. 

After completing seminary at Cluj Napoca in 1987, Fr. Irineu continued his studies at the Andri Saguna Theological Institute in Sibiu, graduating with a thesis titled ''Rules of Organization and Function of Monasteries in the Romanian Orthodox Church''. [[On August 15]], 1988, Fr. Irineu was blessed to the dignity of Protosyngelos by Metr, Antonie.

On [[January 1]], 1993, Fr. Irineu was named [[Hegumen]] of the Brancoveanu [[Monastery]] with the added duties as [[abbot]] supervising the life in 15 neighboring monasteries and 10 sketes. During this time, Hegumen Irineu tonsured 30 monks and 15 nuns as well as installing most of the abbots and abbesses of the monasteries in the Sibiu Diocese. On [[August 15]], 1993, Fr. Irineu was raised to the dignity of [[archimandrite]] during the consecration of a [[monastery]] by the Ecumenical Patriarch [[Bartholomew I (Archontonis) of Constantinople|Bartholomew]] and Patriarch [[Teoctist (Arapasu) of Romania|Teoctist]] of Romania. On [[September 24]], 2000, Arch. Irineu was awarded the right to wear a [[miter]].

In fulfillment of Abp. Nathaniel’s desire to establish within the Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America a [[monasticism|monastic]] presence in the [[St. Andrew House Center for Orthodox Christian Studies|Center of Orthodox Christian Studies]] at St Andrew’s House in Detroit, Michigan, Arch. Irineu received, with a group of monks, canonical release from the Patriarchate of Romania to move to the Unites States and establish a [[Monastery of the Holy Ascension|monastic community]] at the center.  On [[February 23]], 2001, Arch. Irineu was named the abbot of the community which was dedicated to the Holy Ascension. 

On [[June 28]], 2002, the Congress of ROEA  elected Arch. Irineu as a candidate for [[auxiliary bishop]] within the ROEA. His election was confirmed by the [[Holy Synod]] of Bishops of the OCA on [[July 24]], 2002 during a special session of the Thirteenth [[All-American Council]] of the OCA. On [[November 2]], 2002, Arch. Irineu was consecrated [[Bishop]] of Dearborn Heights at the St. George the Great-Martyr Orthodox Cathedral in Southfield/Detroit, Michigan.

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==Sources==
*[http://www.roea.org/bio-irineu.htm  The Right Reverend IRINEU (Duvlea)]
*[http://www.oca.org/HSbioirineu.asp?SID=7  His Grace, the Right Reverend Irineu]

[[Category: Bishops|Irineu]]