UOC spokesperson: Any vaccination must be voluntary
Archpriest Nikolai Danilevich, deputy head of the DECR UOC. Photo: a screenshot of the video from the Youtube channel "Interfax-Ukraine"
The Ukrainian Orthodox Church stands for voluntary vaccination against coronavirus and other diseases, said Archpriest Nikolai Danilevich, Deputy Head of the Department for External Church Relations of the UOC, in an interview with publicist Konstantin Matvienko, published on the “Interfax-Ukraine” Youtube channel.
The spokesperson for the UOC noted that the refusal to vaccinate should not lead to the restriction of the rights and freedoms of citizens. At the same time, he believes that now there are excesses in Ukraine regarding the possibility of making a voluntary choice for or against vaccination. Also, Father Nikolai said that the information on the composition of the vaccines should be publicly available.
Regarding the influence of the Church on the choice of a person, Archpriest Nikolai Danilevich noted that the UOC prohibits priests from interfering in the free choice of parishioners. “A confessor to whom a person confesses or comes to him for advice has no right to prohibit or force vaccinations against coronavirus. This is a matter of a person's personal decision, for which he is independently responsible,” said the UOC spokesperson.
Read also
Church celebrates feast of Holy Foremost Apostles Peter and Paul
On July 12, the Feast of the Apostles Peter and Paul, the Apostles' Fast (Peter's Fast) comes to an end for Orthodox Christians.
UGCC cleric criticizes OCU head for awarding Greek Catholic officials
Hieromonk Yustyn Boiko of the Lviv Archeparchy called the awarding of church honors to officials a profanation and cited the example of an OCU order presented to a Greek Catholic official.
Expert who found no defamation in Dumenko’s remarks to face disciplinary action
An Interior Ministry research center has confirmed disciplinary measures against the expert whose findings supported what the Metropolitan’s representatives described as unfounded accusations by the OCU head against Metropolitan Theodosiy.
European Parliament condemns forced Islamization of children in Pakistan
The European Parliament has called on Pakistan to establish a mechanism to protect Christian families.
Church of the Presentation damaged by shelling in Russia’s Kursk Region
The newly built church in the village of Kulbaki, Glushkovo District, was completely gutted by fire after being struck by a projectile.
UOC priests take part in celebrations at Romania’s Putna Monastery
Clergy of the Chernivtsi-Bukovyna Eparchy took part in a festive service at the ancient shrine of the Romanian Orthodox Church.