The Serbian patriarch died of Covid: he had attended the “funeral-outburst” of a bishop

The Serbian Orthodox Patriarch Irinej, 90, passed away from the consequences of Covid in Belgrade: he had attended the recent funeral (without social distancing) of the head of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Montenegro, who also passed away at the end of October after the coronavirus infection and above. defined “Covid-skeptic” for some of his statements.

The Serbian patriarch died this morning in a hospital in the Serbian capital, where he had been hospitalized for two weeks: the news was made known by the Orthodox Church. Patriarch Irinej had tested positive for coronavirus a few days after his return from Montenegro, where in early November, flanked by Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, he presided over the funeral ceremonies of Metropolitan Amfilohije, head of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Montenegro, who also passed away. for the consequences of the virus at 82 years of age. Amfilohije had been defined as “Covid-skeptic” as a result of some phrases dating back to last May and reported by the BBC: he had stated that, while waiting for a real vaccine, the faithful could find comfort in pilgrimages, to which he defined “the Vaccine of God”.

Thousands of worshipers attended the funeral of the head of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Montenegro, mostly without respecting anti-Covid measures. Many, the BBC emphasized, did in fact have no masks and were oblivious to the rules of physical distancing. The event took place despite the sharp increase in coronavirus cases in both Serbia and Montenegro and the authorities’ warning about a risk to public health. The BBC had highlighted that participation in the ritual had caused the infection of dozens of people.

Irinej was also among those infected, who had been hospitalized in a Belgrade military hospital on November 4 in relatively good condition considering his advanced age. His health has worsened in recent days, with cardiovascular and respiratory complications.

The news of his death had already been spread on the afternoon of November 19 by some Serbian media, denied by Orthodox religious leaders, who had spoken of “irresponsible” and “immoral” behavior.

Elected 45th Patriarch of the Serbian Orthodox Church in January 2010, Irinej occupied positions considered medium and conciliatory between the most rigid and conservative Orthodox exponents and the most open and reformist. According to local media, Irinej may be buried in the crypt of the Orthodox Cathedral of Saint Sava in Belgrade.