A prominent religious leader in Ukraine who earlier this year blamed the coronavirus pandemic on same-sex marriage has tested positive for the virus, his church confirmed Friday in a statement shared on its website and on Facebook.
Patriarch Filaret, who leads the large Ukrainian Orthodox Church, contracted COVID-19 and was subsequently hospitalized, the church confirmed.
In a follow-up statement shared Tuesday, the church said its 91-year-old leader’s health is “stable” as “treatment continues.” “We ask you to continue to pray for His Holiness Patriarch Filaret, so that the All-Merciful and Almighty Lord God will heal the Patriarch,” the statement continued.