Twelve priests of the Archdiocese of Cyprus were suspended for a period of three months with effect from Tuesday, February 8, as they did not respond to the Archbishop’s call to be vaccinated for COVID-19.
As reported by the state channel of Cyprus (RIK), 27 priests out of 123 are unvaccinated. Of these, 15 were vaccinated or granted an exemption for medical reasons.
Archbishop Chrysostomos stated that most of them are theologists and they mislead believers not to be vaccinated.
At the same time, the Archbishop said that the fact that some priests disobey their Archbishop is unheard of for the church and warned that the three months can become six or they can even be completely dismissed from their duties.
The Archbishop also expressed the view that there are other motives behind the attitude of some priests, as well as taking advantage, as he said, of his poor health.
