Even though the elections for Serbia’s new patriarch may have been successful, the procedure has been a source of infection for at least four bishops.
One of them is Metropolitan Irinej of Backa who in the photo provided by OrthodoxTimes.gr seems to be receiving the Holy Communion with the butterfly needle of serum in his arm.
The Bishop of the Serbian Orthodox Church, Irinej, had been diagnosed with COVID-19 a few days ago and for this reason, he did not attend the enthronement of the new Patriarch of Serbia, Porfirije. With the power of faith, obviously despondent, Bishop Irinej is ready to receive the Holy Communion from the Holy Chalice, thus overcoming his illness.
The Bishop is recovering in the metropolitan palace, under the supervision of physicians, while receiving the appropriate treatment. His health condition is said to be improving day by day.
Bishop Teodosije of Raska and Prizren also tested positive for COVID-19 due to contact with someone who attended the elections for the new Patriarch of Serbia. Although he has mild symptoms, the physicians considered it preferable to send him to Dragisa Misovic Hospital in Belgrade for follow-up.
It should be noted that Metropolitan Bishop was present at the enthronement of the new Patriarch of Serbia on February 19 and groups from the Serbian Patriarchate estimate that there will be more people who will become ill as they attended the election and enthronement of the new primate of Serbia.
