Ukrainian religious leader tests COVID-19 positive after blaming gay marriage for pandemic

91-year-old religious leer of Ukrainian Orthodox Church- Kyiv Patriarchate who blamed gay marri for COVID-19 pandemic has tested positive for coronavirus. Patriarch Filaret tested positive for virus on September 4 according to statement shared by church on its website and Facebook p. religious leer claimed that coronavirus is 'God's punishment' for sins committed by humans like same-sex marri during his interview with a local TV channel. LGBTQ community did t take statement well and filed a lawsuit against Filaret for his statement on gay marri.

Ukrainian Orthodox Church leer tests positive for COVID-19

According to official statement from Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Filaret tested positive for COVID-19 during a scheduled test. He has been mitted to hospital and is receiving treatment. According to subsequent report, he is stable and recovering. 

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"We would like to inform you that His Holiness Patriarch of Kyiv and All Russia-Ukraine Filaret, during scheduled testing, showed a positive result on COVID-19. His Holiness is currently receiving hospital treatment. state of health of Patriarch is satisfactory. We ask holy prayers for health and recovery of Patriarch Filaret," re statement from Church dated September 4. 

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" Kyiv Patriarchate received a very large number of messs and calls with words of support to His Holiness Patriarch Filaret of Kyiv and All Rus'-Ukraine and wishes him a speedy recovery. His Holiness Patriarch Filaret is especially grateful to everyone who shows his love and support in prayers for his health. Today, state of health of Patriarch Filaret is stable, treatment continues. We ask you to continue to pray for His Holiness Patriarch Filaret so that All-Merciful and Almighty Lord God will heal Patriarch and heal him from his illness," re subsequent statement dated September 8. 

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Patriarch Filaret's controversy with LGBTQ community

Ukrainian LGBTQ community was offended when Orthodox Church leer blamed COVID-19 pandemic on gay marri and called it a sin during his local TV interview in March. Following this, LGBTQ community filed a lawsuit against Ukrainian religious leer seeking an apology for his propagating false information. lawsuit also sought a correction from TV station that aired controversial comments about gay marri according to local media reports. Soon after Ukrainian Orthodox Church issued an official statement in April which said that Filaret has freedom to express his morality based thoughts.

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