Athens, September 26, 2019
His Beatitude Patriarch Irenaeios (Skopelitis), formerly of Jerusalem, continues to face serious health problems, having suffered an ischemic attack Tuesday morning.
A transient ischemic attack is “a brief episode of neurological dysfunction caused by loss of blood flow (ischemia) in the brain, spinal cord, or retina, without tissue death (infarction).”
He is also suffering from a severe respiratory infection in the respiratory tract, having inhaled sand and dust in the Jordan Desert in August, reports katanixi.gr.
Two priests from the Archdiocese of Athens rushed to immediately visit His Beatitude as soon as they learned of his hospitalization, for which Pat. Irenaios was very grateful.
Pat. Irenaios moved from Jerusalem to Athens for long-term treatment at the St. Porphyrios Center for Gerontology and Welfare Support of the Archdiocese of Athens last month. He was hospitalized in Jerusalem in early July after suffering a pulmonary edema and cardiac arrhythmia, being released a week later. His Beatitude Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens and All Greece then invited Pat. Irenaios to receive treatment in the center. He was finally able to leave in late August, having received his passport with some difficulty.
His health is currently stable, though it is currently unknown when he will be discharged, as his health problems are many.
Abp. Ieronymos is receiving regular notices about the Patriarch’s condition, which has improved significantly during his month in Athens.
