His Eminence, Metropolitan VLADIMIR (Nicolae Cantarean) was born on 18 August 1952 in the village of Colencauti, Hotin raion, Cernauti region, Ukraine. In 1969, he left secondary school in his native village and entered a technical-vocational school, graduating in 1970.

Between 1970 and 1973 he performed regular military service in the Black Sea Navy. After entering the reserve forces he performed the role of subdeacon at the Falling Asleep of the Ever-Virgin Mary Cathedral in Smolensk, while also holding the position of clerk-secretary at the Diocesan Directorate of Smolensk. On 22 May 1974, on the feast of Translation of the Relics of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, Archbishop of Lycian Myra, he was ordained deacon at Smolensk Cathedral of Falling Asleep of the Ever-Virgin Mary, by Bishop of Smolensk and Vyazma THEODOSI (Protiuk), as a celibate (unmarried), being left for service in the Cathedral. On 22 May 1976, he was ordained priest by the same Bishop, and appointed as deputy rector at Smolensk Cathedral of Falling Asleep of the Ever-Virgin Mary.

In 1981 he was transferred to Diocese of Cernauti, and assigned to serve into the clergy at St. Nicholas Cathedral of Cernauti by Bishop of Cernauti and Bucovina VARLAAM (Iliusenko). In 1983, being assigned as secretary of Diocesan Directorate of Cernauti, he was elevated to the rank of archpriest. On 29 November 1987, he took monastic vows with the name VLADIMIR, in honour of the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Great Prince Vladimir (feast 28 July), to the newly consecrated Bishop of Cernauti and Bucovina ANTONIE (Moskalenko). In 1988, for the Feast of Nativity of our Saviour, he was decorated with the gold cross and ordained to the dignity of hegumen, and decorated with the epigonation (palitsa). On Holy Easter of 1988, he was decorated with jewelled cross and elevated to the rank of archimandrite. On the occasion of Millenary of Baptization of Russia, he was decorated, in the same year, with the right to wear a second jewelled cross. In 1981 he graduated from the Moscow Theological Seminary, and in 1989 – Moscow Theological Academy.

By decision of His Holiness Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, PIMEN (Izvekov), and of Holy Synod of Russian Orthodox Church of 07 July 1989, archimandrite VLADIMIR (Cantarean), secretary of Cernauti Diocesan Directorate, was elected bishop of Chisinau and Moldova. On 21 June 1989, on the feast of the Kazan Icon of the Most Holy Mother of God, the consecration service was officiated in Patriarchal Cathedral “Baptization of Our Lord”, by bishops who previously elected and publicly announced archimandrite VLADIMIR’s consecration as bishop of Chisinau and Moldova. On the Feast of Holy Easter in 1990, Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia PIMEN raised bishop VLADIMIR to the dignity of archbishop. Since 1990 – member of Synod Biblical Commission. In 1992 Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia ALEXIS (Ridiger) raised archbishop VLADIMIR to the dignity of Metropolitan of Chisinau and All Moldova.
Since 1995 – rector at Chisinau Theological Seminary. Since 1997, by the Decree of the Holy Synod of Russian Orthodox Church was named rector of Chisinau Theological Academy and Seminary.

In 1990, 1992, 1996, and 1999 was a substitute member of Holy Synod of Russian Orthodox Church. At the Universal Synod of Bishops, held on 13-19 August 2000 in Moscow, Metropolitan VLADIMIR was elected permanent member of Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church.