Funeral Mass for 'COVID-19 Victim' with Open Coffin, Kisses on the Body... Archbishop Leading the Ceremony Infected and Passed Away

Irenaeus, Archbishop of the Serbian Orthodox Church. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Hana Na] Irinej, the head of the Serbian Orthodox Church who conducted the funeral mass for a bishop who died from the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), has died after testing positive for the virus.

According to a CNN report on the 20th (local time), the Serbian Orthodox Church announced that Irinej, who was infected with COVID-19 and was receiving treatment at a hospital in Belgrade, passed away on that day.

The head of the Serbian Orthodox Church was diagnosed with COVID-19 three days after conducting the funeral mass for Archbishop Amfilohije, who died from COVID-19 on the 1st.

During the funeral mass, the coffin lid of Archbishop Amfilohije was left open so that all mourners could see the body.

Most mourners did not wear masks and kissed the hands and forehead of the deceased archbishop.

Irinej, who conducted the funeral mass, and other clergy members also did not wear masks.

It has not been clearly confirmed whether Irinej was infected with COVID-19 at this funeral.

Meanwhile, as of the 19th, 104,097 people in Serbia have been infected with COVID-19, and 1,110 have died.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.