Father Savvas Bolonis, a monk at St Paraskevi Church in St Albans, passed away after catching COVID-19.

Born in Thessaloniki, Father Savvas came to Australia in the 60s.

The 83-year-old monk’s Greek Orthodox faith took him to many monasteries around the world, having served at Mt Athos, Jerusalem and Paphos on Crete.

More recently, he lived at Fronditha Aged Care at St Albans, where there have been a number of COVID-19 cases recorded in the last fortnight.

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Three residents have died of COVID-19 at the aged care home and there are currently 26 residents and 18 staff members who have been infected by the virus.

Sources of Neos Kosmos state that the outbreak is under control as it has been a fortnight since the first COVID-19 case was confirmed.

The total number of Greek Australians who succumbed to COVID-19 in the third wave of the pandemic following the Delta outbreak are currently at 60 according to sources of Neos Kosmos, however there are dozens more infected by the virus.

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Our data has been gathered from contact with funeral homes.

In 2020, when COVID-19 swept through aged care homes, at least 150 people of Greek heritage succumbed to COVID-19 as the virus swept through aged  care homes. At least 50 of the cases concerned the residents of St Basil’s Home in Fawkner. There is currently a Coronial Inquest taking place to investigate their deaths.