BOSTON – His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew is doing well recuperation at a central hospital in Constantinople after testing positive for COVID – 19 during a routine test at the Phanar for the Patriarchal employees two days before Christmas. The Patriarch who experiences mild symptoms was admitted into the Hospital for preventive purposes and also to be under the constant care of the physicians.

The National Herald has learned that the Greek-American doctors who performed the procedure on the Patriarch under the leadership of Dr. George Dangas of insertion of stents in his heart have requested from their colleagues in Turkey to perform some specialized tests on the Patriarch.

TNH has also learned that everything goes well, the Patriarch is in good spirits, he works intensively in the hospital on various documents and letters that are brought to him from the Phanar. He is also in telephone communication with his closest associates and the Phanar and hierarchs of Ecumenical Throne.

The Patriarch will remain in the hospital until he exhausts the necessary time of quarantine as the protocols of COVID – 10 provide. He will probably discharged by Thursday December 30^th . It is noted here that the Patriarch was initially vaccinated with the Chinese vaccine which was the only one available in Turkey at that time, but later he was fully vaccinated with the Pfizer vaccine.

Soon after the Patriarch was tested positive to COVID – 19 the Phanar issued an official announcement informing the world about the Patriarch’s condition. The

The announcement stated the following: “His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew has tested positive for COVID-19 on Friday, December 24 according to an official announcement from The Ecumenical Patriarchate.

His All Holiness is fully vaccinated. He is currently showing mild symptoms and his general condition is good.

Immediately after the diagnosis, he visited the Central Hospital of Constantinople for further preventive examinations.

The Patriarch thanks all those who expressed their concern over the state of his health and urges, once again, all to follow the recommendations of doctors, including those who have not yet been vaccinated, urging them to do it for their own good and of society as a whole. On this occasion, he wishes everyone a Merry and Blessed Christmas.”

His Eminence Metropolitan Emmanuel of Chacledon assumed the responsibilities of the Patriarchal Vicar and officiated for the Christmas Liturgy at Sr. George Patriarchal church at the Phanar.

Among the first ones who express interest about the health of the Patriarch was the President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan who expressed his concern and warm wishes via the minister of Health Dr. Fahrettin Kocea who telephoned the Patriarch. Earlier the minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy  had communicated with Patriarch and conveyed to him his best wishes for speedy recovery.

The concern of the Prime Minister of Greece Kyriakos Mitsotakis was communicated initially to the Patriarch by Dr. Sotiris Tsiodras who is also an Archon of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, but the next day Mistotakis himself phoned the Patriarch. Also The President of the Hellenic Republic Katerina Sakellaropoulou telephoned the Patriarch and wished him speedy recovery.

Also many politicians expressed their wishes to the Patriarch including the leader of the opposition party SΥΡΙΖΑ Alexis Tsipras. Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens and All Greece sent a telegraph to the Patriarch. Also Patriarch Theodoros of Alexandria, Archbishop Anastasios of Albania, hierarchs from Greece, Europe and throughout the World sent their wishes and in many Metropolises abroad offered special prayers for the good health of Patriarch Bartholomew.

A strange impression has been noticed by the thunderous silence of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. No announcement had been issued the moment that for other issues of lesser importance are announced immediately. On the contrary the Order of the Archons of Saint Andrew issued an announcement in English based on the official announcement of the Phanar.