Communiqué Concerning Resolutions of the Holy Synod

Details

Created on Sunday, 07 March 2021 01:34

[PDF] Ελληνικά

Church of the Genuine Orthodox Christians of Greece 

Holy Synod 

Communiqué Concerning Resolutions of the Holy Synod  

February 5/18, 2021 

On Thursday, February 5/18, 2021, the Holy Synod of the Church of the Genuine  Orthodox Christians of Greece convened for its sixth regular session, under the Presidency  of His Beatitude, Archbishop Kallinikos of Athens and All Greece and with the  participation of twelve other Hierarchs from Greece and abroad by way of  videoconferencing, and discussed and reached decisions on the following topics: 

1. The Synod was informed about the ecclesiastical situation in Italy, with regard to  developments in the affairs of the Holy Diocese of Luni. 

2. The Synod was informed about developments in Serbia, with regard to the presence  there of Genuine Orthodoxy and growing impediments. 

3. The Synod discussed a petition for reception from someone presenting himself as a  clergyman from the State Church; the petition was rejected. 

4. There was discussion of the situation created by the coronavirus and specifically of  the new vaccines. After studying the facts, the Hierarchs came to the following  conclusions: 

a) The abnormal situation generated by this pestilence should not become an  occasion for the permanent or long-term curtailment of the basic freedoms of citizens by  the government or for the promotion of schemes for globalization, nor should compulsory  medical procedures be imposed on citizens without their free consent. Recently, the  Council of Europe (2361/2021) ruled that vaccination is not obligatory and that there  should be no discrimination against anyone not wishing to be vaccinated. 

b) A plethora of conflicting information concerning vaccines against the coronavirus  is circulating on the Internet, and even among experts in the scientific community. Much  of this information has been debunked as false or dubious (at least with regard to the two  principal vaccines in use in Greece). The matter does not appear to have any immediate  spiritual or ecclesiastical dimensions, although there are objections that also pose bioethical  issues at an early or experimental phase in the preparation of vaccines. The most serious  objections pertain to the safety of vaccines, that is, whether their trial periods have been sufficient and whether mRNA technology is safe in all respects. Experts on these issues  express differing views, with many of them declaring in favor of the safety of the vaccines,  although no one can offer absolute assurance concerning their long-term consequences.  However, a single Church body, such as the Holy Synod, is not competent to pronounce  on the safety of new pharmaceutical preparations or even experimental vaccines. Every  citizen is called to make his own decision, after consulting with physicians whom he trusts  and who are familiar with the state of his health. Spiritual Fathers must not provide concrete  encouragements or discouragements regarding vaccination to the faithful who ask them  about it, beyond general information, since they will then bear responsibility either if the  faithful lose their lives or put them at risk from vaccination (on account of serious side effects) or from non-vaccination (on account of disease with serious consequences resulting from the virus). This issue does not cease being chiefly and basically a medical  one. 

c) We call upon our faithful to continue their fervent prayers for the cessation of this  plague, for the healing of the infirm, and for the strengthening of doctors and nurses in their  difficult work and especially that they abide in peace and love among themselves, not  judging one another over their attitudes towards medical issues and not falling into the trap  of new divisions and disagreements on these matters, but being concerned first and  foremost with the salvation of their souls. 

5. The Holy Synod dealt with other ongoing issues. 

From the Chancery