Archbishop Eirinaios of Crete in an interview with Cretalive.gr, referred to the “greatest wealth” of life and shared some of his most intense experiences from his hospitalization in the University General Hospital of Heraklion.
His great consolation, during those difficult hours, was his heartfelt prayer to God while his companion, were the prayers of all his brothers as he stated.
The dozens of letters of support he receives every day, have a strengthening effect on his body and soul, who is still under medical supervision and continues his physiotherapies.
The Archbishop still feels the warmth of the doctors and nurses, the “white-clad angels”, who “stood not only by my side, but also by the side of all the patients” the Primate of the Church of Crete stated. He also highlighted that he will “always” commemorate them with gratitude, for their dedication to duty, especially in these difficult conditions of the pandemic”.
The Archbishop calls us to “stand responsibly and prudently” in the face of the “invisible enemy”, COVID-19: “to be humbled”, “to look again with new perspective and to approach differently our whole life” and “to truly repent” in order to “find again our way”.
The Archbishop wished “all people to celebrate Christmas truly and heartily”, hoping that the new year will be better than 2020 and asked every person to stand on the ramparts of duty, with faith, love, solidarity and strength!”.
Being asked how he spent his hours in the hospital, the Archbishop of Crete said that in the Intensive Care Unit there was a strong feeling of loneliness, as there was no room for communication, but the excellent Medical and Nursing Staff of the Unit did not allow human anguish or loneliness to dominate, noting: “Personally, I would not say that I felt fear. I know very well that the life of all of us is in the hands of God. In those hours a great consolation for me was my heartfelt prayer to God. In this personal prayer I had as a “companion” the prayers of all my brothers.”
Finally, referring to the interest of the people in his face, he stressed that the love and prayers of the people, from Crete, but also from other parts of Greece and the world, moved him deeply. But also the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, the Primates of the Churches, the Holy Eparchial Synod of the Church of Crete and all the High Priests, clergy and laity, expressed their interest and love. “It is important in these difficult circumstances to remain HUMANS and to express love for each other,” the Archbishop said.
