The Bishop who led the funeral service for the late Serbian Patriarch Irinej has tested positive for Covid-19, the Serbian state TV (RTS) said on Monday.
According to rs.n1info.cm, Krusevac Bishop David has been infected and hospitalized at the Dragisa Misovic hospital in Belgrade, the RTS said and added that the Bishop was tested after Sunday’s funeral service in the St Sava cathedral.
The church and authorities have been criticized for not implementing prevention measures during funeral services of Metropolitan Amfilohije and Patriarch Irinej.
The bodies of both Patriarch Irinej and Bishop Amfilohije were in open caskets, the only difference being that the Patriarch’s body was covered by a pane of glass.
Most of the priests at both funerals did not wear masks.
The World Health Organization (WHO) representative in Serbia Dr Marjan Ivanusa said that he understands religious emotion but added that “as a doctor he was speechless” after seeing the funeral service.
