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
Khust Eparchy honors memory of St. Job of Uholka
A Liturgy is served in Mala Uholka, a birthplace of St. Job of Uholka, on the saint's feast day.
UOC parish in Cologne donates ultrasound machine to Kharkiv region hospital
In Cologne, UOC believers raised funds for an ultrasound machine for the Kehychivka district hospital in the Kharkiv region.
Shevchuk tells Pope Leo of Ukraine's preparations for "another harsh winter"
The head of the UGCC expressed "special gratitude" to the Pope for his phone calls with Putin and Zelensky.
Berlin hierarch comments on Phanar document published by UOJ-USA
Metropolitan Mark called the information about the 2018 "Unification Council" alarming if confirmed, and expressed hope that Patriarch Bartholomew will reconsider his position.
UOC marks Synaxis of All Saints of Volyn Land at Lutsk cathedral
Metropolitan Serhiy of Ternopil and Kremenets led the Liturgy on the feast day of the Lutsk cathedral of All Saints of the Volyn Land.
SBU detains OCU cleric who organized draft evader's escape for money
In Transcarpathia, law enforcement officers detained a clergyman of the OCU who arranged for a draft evader to be smuggled into Slovakia for $15,000.