The Head of the Greek Orthodox Church, Metropolitan Ieronymos II was hospitalized on Thursday after testing positive for the coronavirus, the Skai broadcaster reported.
The 82-year-old Greek cleric was showing mild COVID-19 symptoms after testing positive on Monday and was placed in intensive care in an Athens hospital out of precaution.
Leronymos and the rest of the Greek Holy Synod were instructed to self-isolate after one of the body’s members tested positive on Nov. 11.
On March 14, he met Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis to discuss health measures for the upcoming Christmas period.
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The church in Greece has come under fire since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic over lax safety measures at religious services.
Videos showing people inside crowded churches without masks and standing in line to kiss icons have circulated on social media.
In spite rapid and decisive measures by Mitsotakis’ government, the infection rate has accelerated.
On Wednesday, the country of 11 million people reported 3,200 new infections and 60 deaths within 24 hours. (dpa/NAN)
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