Archbishop Nicolae was born in 1967 in Constanta, Romania. After completing theological studies at the Theological Faculty, Sibiu, Romania and Marc Bloch University, Strasbourg, he served as the Romanian Patriarchate's delegate to the Dialogue Committee for European Integration within the Brussels-based Conference of European Churches. In December 2001 he entered the Monastery of Radu Voda, Bucharest while serving as Patriarchal Secretary.