Patriarch Irinej of Serbia fell asleep after losing battle with COVID-19

President of Serbia Alexander Vucic wrote on Instagram: “It was an honour to know you. People like you never depart. May his memory be eternal!”.

Patriarch Irinej of Serbia had been hospitalized since November 5 at the Military COVID Hospital “Karaburma”.

The Patriarch of Serbia had shown signs of improvement in the previous days, according to the official announcements of the Patriarchate.
Yesterday’s announcement, however, stated that his health condition deteriorated and the Patriarch has been intubated.

Serbian Patriarch Irinej was born on August 28, 1930. He was the 45th Patriarch of the Serbian Orthodox Church and the spiritual leader of Eastern Orthodox Serbs since January 2010.

In 1974, Irinej was elected Vicar Bishop of Moravica and consecrated by Serbian Patriarch German.

In 1975, he was elected Bishop of Niš and enthroned in the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Niš on June 15, 1975. He headed the Niš eparchy for the next 35 years.

He was elected the 45th Patriarch of the Serbian Orthodox Church on January 22, 2010, after the falling asleep in the Lord of previous Serbian Patriarch Pavle. He was enthroned on January 23, 2010, in St. Michael’s Cathedral in Belgrade.