Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew spoke to the state-owned public television broadcaster ERT about his health problem and the operation he underwent, as well as the care of the expatriate doctors and the love of the people. He also spoke of his 12-day visit to the USA. As the Ecumenical Patriarch said, “All’s well that ends well.”
“I feel very well, thank God. It was a small adventure, it lasted very little time. Of course, the heart attack, if I may call it that, was a bit serious and the operation had to be carried out,” said the Ecumenical Patriarch.
As he said, he continues his program normally and so on November 20 he will be in Athens to celebrate the 30 years of his patriarchal ministry, as orthodoxtimes.com had also made public in an article.
“I am grateful to God who deemed worthy to reach this level of my ecclesiastical life and ministry,” said Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.
Speaking of his visit, he said that what made a good impression on him was the vitality of the Greek community, which he was proud of for its achievements.
The Ecumenical Patriarch spoke warmly about the personality and work of Archbishop Elpidophoros of America, whom he described as “a man of ours from within the Phanar.”
The Ecumenical Patriarch leaves without any foreseeable difficulties on Sunday for Constantinople.