Nafpaktos, Greece, October 7, 2022
Photo: romfea.gr
One of best-known theologians of the Greek Orthodox Church has tested positive for the coronavirus.
Having experienced mild symptoms of an upper respiratory infection while participating in the work of the Greek Holy Synod over the past few days, Metropolitan Hierotheos (Vlachos) of Nafpaktos and Agios Vlasios took a self-test, which indicated that he has COVID, reports Romfea.
The Metropolitan is well-known among English-speaking Orthodox Christians (and throughout the entire Orthodox world) thanks to the translation of a number of his books and articles.
He is resting at home, with no particular symptoms.
The Metropolitan was the first hierarch in Greece to be vaccinated, in December 2020, and became a public defender of the vaccines.
In a letter to Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens, he wrote:
I think, however, that this subject is not strictly theological, it is purely a matter of the physical health of man, and the first word is given to science and the healing doctor of every individual, who knows about their medical history. If one wants to find conspiracies in all matters, then one must lock oneself in a “protective bowl,” not use modern technology at all, or leave for the desert and not use the achievements of modern science in modern life in all aspects of our life.
“And if there are some side effects, as in all medicines, they will be less than everyday cases and deaths, and it will help to dispel the fear of death and restore normalcy to our society and the whole state, as well as the Church to perform the Mysteries and the services freely,” he wrote to the Greek primate, who then urged him to become the first bishop of the Greek Church to be vaccinated.
Patriarch Kirill of Moscow is also currently battling COVID, OrthoChristian reported last week.
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