BOSTON – Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew was discharged from the Central Hospital of Constantinople on Thursday afternoon, December 30. The Patriarch is expected to stay at his home until next Monday or Tuesday and then will return to his office at the Phanar. His All-Holiness worked intensively throughout his treatment during the hospital stay.  --  As was previously reported, Patriarch Bartholomew tested positive for COVID-19 during a routine test at the Phanar for Patriarchal employees two days before Christmas. The Patriarch, who experienced mild symptoms, was admitted to the hospital for preventive purposes and also to be under the constant care of the physicians.
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The National Herald has learned that the Greek-American doctors who inserted stents in the Patriarch under the leadership of Dr. George Dangas have requested that their colleagues in Turkey perform some specialized tests on the Patriarch.

TNH has also learned that everything is going well and that the Patriarch is in good spirits, reportedly working intensively in the hospital on various documents and letters that are brought to him from the Phanar. He is also in telephone communication with his closest associates at the Phanar and with hierarchs of the Ecumenical Throne.

The Patriarch will remain in the hospital until he exhausts the necessary time of quarantine as the protocols of COVID-10 provide and will probably discharged by Thursday, December 30. It is noted here that the Patriarch was initially vaccinated with the Chinese vaccine which was the only one available in Turkey at that time, but later he was fully inoculated with the Pfizer vaccine.

Soon after the Patriarch tested positive for COVID-19 the Phanar issued an official announcement informing the world about the Patriarch’s condition. The

The announcement stated the following:

“His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew has tested positive for COVID-19 on Friday, December 24 according to an official announcement from The Ecumenical Patriarchate.

“His All Holiness is fully vaccinated. He is currently showing mild symptoms and his general condition is good. Immediately after the diagnosis, he visited the Central Hospital of Constantinople for further preventive examinations.

“The Patriarch thanks all those who expressed their concern over the state of his health and urges, once again, all to follow the recommendations of doctors, including those who have not yet been vaccinated, urging them to do it for their own good and of society as a whole. On this occasion, he wishes everyone a Merry and Blessed Christmas.”

His Eminence Metropolitan Emmanuel of Chalcedon assumed the responsibilities of Patriarchal Vicar and officiated at the Christmas Liturgy at the St. George Patriarchal church at the Phanar

Among the first to show interest in the health of the Patriarch was the President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who expressed his concern and warm wishes via the minister of Health Dr. Fahrettin Kocea, who telephoned the Patriarch. Earlier, the minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy had communicated with the Patriarch and conveyed to him his best wishes for speedy recovery.

The concern of the Prime Minister of Greece Kyriakos Mitsotakis was initially communicated to the Patriarch by Dr. Sotiris Tsiodras, who is also an Archon of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, but the next day Mitsotakis himself telephoned the Patriarch. Also, the President of the Hellenic Republic Katerina Sakellaropoulou telephoned the Patriarch and wished him a speedy recovery.

Many other politicians expressed their good wishes to the Patriarch, including Alexis Tsipras, the leader of the main opposition party SΥΡΙΖΑ. Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens and All Greece sent a telegram to the Patriarch, and Patriarch Theodoros of Alexandria, Archbishop Anastasios of Albania, and hierarchs from Greece, Europe, and throughout the World sent their good wishes and in many Metropolises abroad special prayers were offered for the good health of Patriarch Bartholomew.

A strange impression has been made by the thunderous silence of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. No announcement had been issued the moment the news became known, while other issues of lesser importance are announced immediately. On the other hand, the Order of St. Andrew – Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate issued an announcement in English based on the official announcement of the Phanar.