Doctors say Archbishop making stable recovery

MEDICAL officials said yesterday that Archbishop Chrysostomos was making a steady recovery and that his operation for a broken hip joint bone had gone smoothly.

They added that the Church leader was in a stable condition and was being kept under observation at the Nicosia General Hospital.

Speaking to reporters, the director of the Observation Unit of the Hospital, Costas Zambartas, said the Archbishop was in a stable condition despite not being able fully to respond to his surroundings. He added that the Archbishop had been transferred to the Cardiology Ward of the hospital simply so he could have the privacy needed for his stature.

“For the first time since the operation, the Archbishop was able to drink some liquid and we will continue to monitor his condition. Although he is not fully aware of his surroundings, His Holiness is still able to respond to some people.”

The Archbishop fell and broken his leg while making his way up a staircase. The go-ahead for the operation was given after a team of doctors concurred and the Primates’ relatives consented. Acting Church leader Bishop Chrysostomos of Paphos then signed a paper authorising surgery, which was carried out under total anaesthesia.

Chrysotomos has been out of the public eye for a few years now, and is said to be suffering from Alzheimer’s disease.

Visiting the Archbishop yesterday was EDEK Chairman Yiannakis Omirou, who wished the Archbishop all the best and a speedy recovery.

“It seems that the doctors and medical staff are satisfied with the Archbishop’s recovery from what was a serious operation. It is the wish of all of us that everything goes smoothly for the Archbishop.”

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