AUCCRO voices position on vaccination against coronavirus
Meeting of the AUCCRO on 27.01.21. Photo: news.church.ua
On January 27, 2021, the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations (AUCCRO) announced its position on vaccination against COVID-19 in Ukraine, reports vrciro.org.ua.
On behalf of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, with the blessing of the Primate of the UOC, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry of Kyiv and All Ukraine, Bishop Victor (Kotsaba) of Baryshevka, as well as an employee of the UOC Department for External Church Relations (DECR), Sergey Bortnik, took part in the meeting.
The meeting participants noted that the issue of vaccination is primarily a medical problem, and "religious leaders should not be promoters of this since this is the competence of physicians, who should comprehensively inform citizens about the benefits and risks of vaccination."
In addition, in their opinion, the state should provide citizens with a free choice: to be vaccinated or not, as well as with what kind of vaccine, since it is not only about its effectiveness and safety, but also about the production technology.
Earlier, Bishop Victor (Kotsaba) stressed that the Church does not oppose vaccination but the methods of its introduction are worrisome.
As reported, the head of the UGCC Sviatoslav Shevchuk became the new chairman of the AUCCRO for the next six months.
Read also
National Antiochian Orthodox Choir to Perform at Carnegie Hall
Those who wish to join the choir as singers must submit their applications by this Sunday, September 21.
Orthodoxy Grows in West with Baptisms in Chile and Netherlands
Converts were received into the Romanian Orthodox Metropolia of the Americas and the Serbian Orthodox Eparchy of Western Europe, respectively.
Theophilos Greets Kirill After Snubbing Bartholomew
The Patriarch of Jerusalem met with the Patriarch of Moscow during a conference in Kazakhstan. Notably, Theophilos avoided meeting the Patriarch of Constantinple during his recent visit to Istanbul.
Abp. Alexei: How to Pray as a Family
"If a family prays together," His Eminence said, "the household becomes a little tower in that vineyard."
Pat. Bartholomew Honors U.S. Traditions, Greek Heritage in Washington Visit
Bartholomew lays wreath at Arlington, meets with U.S. leaders, and blesses faithful in Virginia.
Police Return Relics of St. Raphael to St. Vladimir's Seminary
Yonkers officers, K9 unit honored with blessing and thanksgiving at the seminary.