Archbishop Chistodoulos exits hospital

[Ellinas]

Archbishop of Athens and All Greece Christodoulos was released from the Aretaio Hospital in Athens on Friday, 42 days after his admission. He underwent surgery to remove a cancerous growth from his large intenstine and also received initial treatment for an unrelated tumor in his liver.

A frail and emotional Christodoulos told reporters that he is thankful to all those who prayed for his recovery.

The Archbishop will depart for Miami, USA after Aug. 10 to undergo a liver transplant operation.

ANA

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Archbishop Christodoulos waves as he exits the Aretaio Hospital in Athens yesterday after spending 42 days there. ‘I am deeply grateful for the love you have shown me and for your prayers,’ said the head of the Church of Greece. ‘I am here standing on my own two feet.’ Looking much gaunter than when he was first hospitalized, Christodoulos said he was preparing for a ‘new adventure’ in the USA, where he will travel next month to undergo a liver transplant after being diagnosed with liver cancer.

PANTELIS SAITAS/ANA

[Ellinas]

Archbishop feels ‘closer to God’

Archbishop Christodoulos is planning to fly to the US on August 18 for his liver transplant and has admitted that his illness has brought him “closer to God.”

The head of the Church of Greece spent 42 days in the Aretaio Hospital in Athens, where he was diagnosed with liver cancer, before being discharged 10 days ago.

“Pain brings you closer to God, it makes you more receptive to his grace,” Christodoulos told the New York-based Greek language daily Ethnikos Kyrix.

The Archbishop said that he is trying to put church affairs in order before making the trip to Miami in less than three weeks’ time to prepare for his transplant once a suitable liver is found.

Christodoulos admitted that his illness had made him re-evaluate his feelings for people, in particular those with whom he had disagreements in the past.

“It is at times like these that man feels his life is very short and, at the same time, too important to waste on trivialities,” said the archbishop.

Christodoulos said he had confidence in his aides and the Holy Synod to take care of church affairs in his absence.

Η ΚΑΘΗΜΕΡΙΝΗ