Bishop of Panevėžys
Born: June 8, 1973; Ordained Priest: July 15, 2000; Ordained Bishop: April 14, 2012; Bishop of Panevėžys: May 20, 2016. Genadijus (religious name Linas) Vodopjanovas was born on June 8, 1973, in Neringa, within the Diocese of Telšiai. After completing secondary school in Nida, he entered the Friars Minor (Franciscan) monastery in Kretinga. From 1992 to 1993, he completed his novitiate in Kennebunkport, Maine (USA). On June 4, 1993, he made his first Franciscan vows. From 1993 to 1995, he studied at the Kaunas Priest Seminary while simultaneously pursuing studies at the Faculty of Theology of Vytautas Magnus University. From 1995 to 2000, he studied in Italy at the *Studio Teologico "S. Bernardino"* in Verona (affiliated with the Pontifical University "Antonianum") and received a Bachelor's degree in Theology on May 26, 2000. On August 15, 1996, he made his solemn (perpetual) vows, adopting the religious name Linas. He was ordained a priest on July 15, 2000, and incardinated into the Lithuanian Province of St. Casimir of the Friars Minor. In 2000, he was appointed vicar of the Kretinga parish. From 2001 to 2004, he served as the Guardian of the Annunciation of the Lord Monastery in Kretinga. From 2003 to 2004, he served as the pastor of the Kretinga parish, and from 2004 to 2007, as the Guardian of the Hill of Crosses Monastery in Šiauliai. From 2007 to 2010, he served as Novice Master. In 2007, he was elected Vicar Provincial of the Lithuanian Province of St. Casimir of the Order of Friars Minor for the 2007–2013 term. From 2010, he served as the parish priest of Kretinga. On February 11, 2012, Pope Benedict XVI appointed Father Linas Vodopjanovas as Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of Telšiai, assigning him the titular see of Quiza. On April 14, 2012, he was consecrated bishop at the Church of the Annunciation to the Blessed Virgin Mary in Kretinga and appointed Vicar General of the Diocese of Telšiai. On October 28, 2014, he was elected Chairman of the Commission for Religious Orders of the Lithuanian Bishops' Conference, and in 2015, he was appointed the bishop responsible for environmental protection issues. On May 20, 2016, he was appointed Bishop of Panevėžys.