Nicolae Mihăescu was born into a peasant family in Pîrlița, Fălești in the western Moldovan SSR.
After graduating from secondary school in 1974 he trained as an auto mechanic before being drafted into the Soviet Army in 1978.
In 1980, with the blessing of Archbishop Jonathan of Chisinau and Moldova Nicolae entered the Zhabsky Monastery, studying from 1981 to 1985 at the Odessa Theological Seminary.
Three days later he ordained Hierodeacon Marchel to the priesthood, and appointed him abbot of the Neusypayuschih Monastery on Pascha in 1988.
On October 6, 2006, the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church elected Fr.