GREECE: Grabbed by the pope and tore up the circular on vaccines

A ridiculous incident took place in a chapel in a village of Paros on Sunday, July 25.

When the Liturgy was over and it was time to read from the pulpit the circular of the Holy Synod of the Church of Greece which was issued a few days ago and is in favor of vaccinations, the priest handed over the document of the circular to the cantor with the latter refusing to read it.

Then, when the priest himself took the document and began to read it to the faithful, an unexpected event brought upside down the small temple. A woman who was inside the chapel, suddenly snatched the circular from the hands of the priest and tore it in front of the surprised eyes of the flock that was embarrassed to look at the unexpected spectacle!

Confusion and confusion prevailed at that time among the congregation that did not know how to react to the unexpected turn taken by the reading of the circular of the Holy Synod of the Church of Greece, which emphasizes, among other things, that the vaccination against Covid - 19 disease does not goes against Christian teaching by recommending everyone in consultation with their doctor to get the vaccine.

The Circular

The most perfect creation of God is man, who was created to live forever. Selfishness led man to fall and the fall brought consequence of illness and death.

Our Creator, in order to alleviate the pain of people from diseases, gave us medical science and medicines. In the Old Testament, the prophet Isaiah, with the help of the then physician, healed Hezekiah.

In the New Testament, on the other hand, our Lord himself emphasizes the necessity of medical science, saying: "ὐ χρείαν ἔχουσιν οἱ χύσχύοντες ἰατροῦ, ἀλλ 'οἱ κακῶς ἔχοντες", 9) ἀνάγκη τῆς συνδρομῆς τῶν ἰατρῶν.

Saint Nektarios also, shortly before his death, not enduring the pains of his illness, sought medical care at the Eretaeio Hospital, where he died.

But also Saint Luke Ἰ Ἰατρός, a pioneer in medical scientific achievements, gave and continues to give, after his sleep, to give, with the power of the Holy Spirit, to the people the health of the soul and the body.

In our time, Saint Porphyrios became the pre-eminent saint of the Nursing Institutions and, knowing how much the pain of the sick ὅ one's, he asked the people to help him to pray for his enlightenment and to enlighten him. .

Even today, the Church trusts the scientific community of physicians, which day and night fights for the liberation of human beings from the deadly pandemic.

With the enlightenment of God and the painstaking effort of scientists and researchers, humanity now has the vaccine at its disposal, which is able to raise a wall in the spread of the pandemic.

The hope has risen for a return to normalcy, but, mainly, for the unhindered participation in the Divine Mysteries of our Church, culminating in the Communion of all of us during the Sacrament of the Divine Eucharist.

The Holy Synod of the Church of Greece, knowing that vaccination is a maximum act of responsibility towards fellow human beings, recommends to everyone, in consultation with their doctor, to use our gift in order to protect our gift. and every man "for Christ died" (Rom. 14:15).

And he wants to authentically assure that this vaccine does not come into any contradiction with the geographical, paternal and canonical teaching of our Holy Church.

Fear of anything unprecedented often provokes reactions or suspicion, often resulting in confused voices and separation. This, however, is in contradiction with the request of our Lord, during His Hierarchical Prayer, "Let every man be" (John 17:21).

In this difficult situation we need faith, prudence, humility, a high sense of responsibility, solidarity, love for God and for our neighbor because if these are omitted, fear will take over the hearts of men, and they will see the fear of man and God. fear ”(Ps. 13: 5).

Τεκνα ἐν Κυρίῳ ἀγαπητά,

We invite you to listen to the voice of science and experts, who always with a high sense of responsibility inform the citizens, proposing appropriate solutions adapted to the treatment of those who face difficulties.

Many times, on social media, views are constantly projected, which lack scientificity, but also ecclesiastical spirit.

That is why we draw attention, recalling the words of the Evangelist of the Love of Saint John the Theologian "do not believe in every spirit, but try the spirits from God" (4: 1).

Our children,

We invite all to a full-fledged prayer, which, after all, constitutes the pre-eminent weapon of the Christians, together with the observance of the Medical Instructions and with the help of the scholars, and with the help of the scientific observers. let us glorify the Leader of our Faith, Jesus Christ, who came into this world "to have life and to have it more" (John 10:10).

After τνς ἐν Κυρίῳ ἀγάπης και πολλῶν πατρικῶν εὐχῶν.

Presidential Elections, President
Ὁ Ὁ Μυτιλήνης, Ἐρεσσοῦ και Πλωμαρίου Ἰάκωβος
Ουμε Ὁ Goumenissis, Ἀξιουπόλεως και Πολυκάστρου Δημήτριος
Ὁ Ὁ Veria, Naoussa and Campania Panteleimon
Ὁ Ὁ Διδυμοτείχου, Ὀρεστιάδος και Σουφλίου Δαμασκηνός
Ρυ ρυ Δρυϊνουπόλεως, Πωγωνιανῆς και Κονίτσης Ἀνδρέας
Άν Ὁ Xanthi and Peritheoriou Panteleimon
Ἄ Ἄ τηςρτης Καλλίνικος
⁇ † Ὁλίου, Ἀχαρνῶν καί Πετρουπόλεως Ἀθηναγόρας
Α Ὁ Zakynthos Dionysios
Ὁ Ὁ Κηφισίας, Ἀμαρουσίου και Ὠρωποῦ Κύριλλος
Ὁ Ὁ Nea Ionia, Philadelphia, Heraklion and Chalcedon Gabriel
Ὁ Ὁ Γλυφάδας,⁇ λληνικοῦ, Βούλας, Βουλιαγμένης και Βάρης Ἀντώνιος

The Chief Secretary
† Ὁ ῶρεῶν Φιλόθεοςιλόθεος

Source: Protothema.gr