By Kostas Onisenko
There is no reason to monitor compliance with sanitary measures in Russian churches during the pandemic, said the head the Synodal Department for External Church Relations the Church of the Moscow Patriarchate, Vladimir Legoida.
Speaking in an interview with the Russian news agency RIA Novosti, he said that the necessary measures were being observed in religious places: “It seems to me that the majority of churches and monasteries follow the precautionary measures, that is they disinfect all surfaces, they air out indoor places, and they observe all sanitary measures for the protection of viruses. As for inspections, I have no doubt that the Christian responsibility of (editor’s note: each) abbot and parishioners – is the best guarantee of security.” I think there is no need for special inspections,” he said.
In the same interview, Legoida said that there were different views within and outside the Church on the danger of the virus, but believers should follow the sanitary measures so as not to put each other in danger.
As for vaccination, he said that the Church had never opposed vaccinations, as in the case of most medical interventions, but the choice of each person should be respected as to whether one wants to be vaccinated or not.
“There are some hierarchs and priests who have already been vaccinated against the coronavirus willingly, but they do not impose their choice on anyone,” he said.
