Father Hieromonk Irineu Balan was born in Campulung Muscel town, Arges county, Romania, with the name of Ioan-Leonard Balan, on Sept. the 17th, 1973.

In 1998 he graduated from both The Faculty of Fine Arts (Religious Paintings section) and The ‘Dumitru Staniloae’ Faculty of Orthodox Theology (Pastoral Theology section) in Iasi city.

In 1999 he received the tonsure to the monastic schema at Barnova Monastery from Iasi. At tonsure he received the name of Irineu. In the spring of the same year he became hieromonk, meaning that he was ordained as servant priest and confessor.

During 1999 - 2003 he painted a lot of Orthodox icons on wood and on canvas for Romanian Orthodox and Catholic churches, and also for churches from other countries such as Italy, Spain, Luxembourg, Canada, U.S., Switzerland and Great Britain.

At the moment Fr. Irineu paints religious icons and serves the Orthodox Church as a priest and confessor at the Bucium Monastery from Iasi.

The technique he uses for icon painting is the traditional one, in egg tempera. Through his icons he reveals a quiet and profound spirituality, one which is most proper for monks living in a world full of haste and noise.