BELGRADE -- The head of the Serbian Orthodox Church has been hospitalized after testing positive for the coronavirus.
The church said in a statement on November 4 that Patriarch Irinej’s condition was discovered during a "routine testing procedure.”
The 90-year-old spiritual leader remains "without symptoms and in excellent general health," according to the statement, which added that he had been taken to a “COVID Hospital” in Belgrade.
The announcement comes three days after Patriarch Irinej led a service during the funeral of Metropolitan Amfilohije, the head of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Montenegro.
Amfilohije died on October 30 at the age of 82 after being hospitalized following a positive test for the coronavirus.
Thousands of people turned out in Podgorica for his funeral in violation of coronavirus measures. Many mourners were not wearing masks or maintaining social distance.
Representatives of the Roman Catholic Church and the Islamic religious community also attended, along with public officials such as Montenegrin Prime Minister-designate Zdravko Krivokapic, Parliament Speaker Aleksa Becic, and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic.
The coronavirus has so far infected more than 53,000 people and killed 850 in Serbia, according to the country’s authorities.
Montenegro has reported more than 320 deaths and over 20,000 infections.
Serbian Orthodox Patriarch Hospitalized After Testing Positive For Coronavirus
Related
Editors' Picks
Top Trending
1
Putin Sends Signals To The West On Ukraine Ahead Of Trump's New Term
2Russia Moving Military Assets To Africa After Syria Setback
3Ukraine Hits Kazan Buildings In Latest Display Of Drone Power
4What Would The Russian Capture Of Pokrovsk Mean For The Ukraine War?
5Mystery Photos Shed Light On Romania's 1989 Revolution
6Orban Says Higher NATO Defense Targets Would Cripple The Hungarian Economy
7U.S., U.K. Say Medvedev's Comment Calling NATO Officials 'Legitimate Targets' Irresponsible
8Kyiv Hits Kursk After Massive Wave Of Deadly Russian Strikes On Ukraine
9Putin, In Annual Televised Show Of Control, Says Russia Nearing 'Primary Goal' In Ukraine War
10Russia's Runaway Food Prices
RFE/RL has been declared an "undesirable organization" by the Russian government.
If you are in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine and hold a Russian passport or are a stateless person residing permanently in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine, please note that you could face fines or imprisonment for sharing, liking, commenting on, or saving our content, or for contacting us.
To find out more, click here.
