Athens, November 13, 2020
Photo: romfea.gr
His Beatitude Archbishop Anastasios of Tirana and All Albania tested positive for the coronavirus on Wednesday and was flown to the Evangelismos Hospital in Athens for treatment.
Arriving at the hospital, the Archbishop was admitted to the ICU, showing mild symptoms and a mild fever.
Yesterday, after his first day in the ICU, His Beatitude, whose health is currently stable, issued a hopeful message:
I’ve had my first day in Evangelismos and everything is going well. Throughout our lives we refer to the God of surprises but also to the God of miracles.
Our journey in Albania began with the exclamation “God is with us” and the chorus of “we are with Him,” which bolstered our certainty that “God will not leave us.”
My heartfelt thanks to the distinguished doctors and nurses and to the multitude of people who once again expressed their love with spontaneous prayer.
Words from last Sunday’s Gospel reading give us the proper approach: Fear not: believe only (Lk. 8:50).
The Archbishop has received messages of support and prayers from ecclesiastical and civil leaders from throughout the world.
