Irineu Duvlea

[2] Bishop Irineu was born on April 19, 1962, in Alba Iulia, Romania to Ion and Aurelia Duvlea, an Orthodox Christian family.

[4] Following an exchange of letters between Antonie and Nathaniel, Archbishop of Detroit and The Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America, Archimandrite Irineu and a group of monks were given canonical release to come to America and establish The Ascension of the Lord Monastery under the omofor of Archbishop Nathaniel, with Archimandrite Irineu as Abbot, at the Saint Andrew House in Detroit, Michigan.

Since their arrival on February 23, 2001, they worked to offer hospitality, comfort and spiritual care to not only the Romanian community but to the entire Orthodox population of Metropolitan Detroit and the Midwestern United States region.

Having been elected by the Congress of The Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America (ROEA) in Special Session on June 28, 2002, the members of the Holy Synod of Bishops of The Orthodox Church in America, under the presidency of Metropolitan Herman, confirmed the election of the Archimandrite Irineu to the episcopacy during its special session as part of the All-American Council on July 24, 2002.

[5] Since his consecration, he has overseen activities as requested of him by Archbishop Nathaniel, traveling extensively throughout the country, especially visiting the numerous mission communities.