Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomaios has been tested positive to Covid-19 on Friday, the patriarchate’s press office in Istanbul announced. Vartholomaios has mild symptom the announcement added.
The 81-year-old spiritual leader of the world’s Eastern Orthodox Christians tested positive during the regular testing on Friday and immediately went for tests to a central Istanbul hospital, where his overall condition was found to be quite good.
Vartholomaios has been fully vaccinated against the Covid-19, the press office added.
He recently underwent successful heart stent surgery in New York.
“The ecumenical patriarch thanks everyone for their interest in the state of his health and encourages everyone, as a father, to follow the recommendations of doctors and scientific experts. He also urges those who have not been vaccinated yet to go and do it for their own and society’s sake,” the announcement concluded.