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.
