The Standing Holy Synod of the Church of Greece issued an Encyclical, which was sent to the Holy Dioceses regarding the pandemic and its treatment, entitled “Church and science in the fight against the pandemic”.
In the Encyclical, the Standing Holy Synod emphasized the necessity of medical science, as the Lord himself said “when the body is sick, there is a need for the help of doctors”.
The Standing Holy Synod referred to the examples of Saint Nektarios, who shortly before his death, not enduring the pain, sought medical help at Aretaieio Hospital where he fell asleep in the Lord.
But also, of Saint Luke the physician, who gave and continues after his death to give, with the power of the Holy Spirit, to people the health of the body, but also of the soul.
Reaching the present day, the Holy Synod emphasized that even today, the Church trusts the scientific community of doctors, which fights day and night for the liberation of people from the deadly pandemic.
In fact, it is emphasized that humanity now has at its disposal the vaccine, “which is capable of building a wall in the spread of the pandemic. The Standing Holy Synod of the Church of Greece, knowing that vaccination is a maximum act of responsibility towards fellow humans, recommends to everyone, in consultation with their doctor, to use the gift that God has given us, to protect ourselves, and others.
The Church of Greece genuinely wants to assure that this vaccine does not come in any contradiction with the Hagiographic, Patriarchal and Canonical teaching of our Holy Church”.
The Holy Synod also calls not to hear voices that cause confusion and separation, especially from social media, which “lack scientific approach but also ecclesiastical spirit.”
