Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens: "For each of us to receive the vaccine is an act of Christian solidarity and love for our neighbor"

Our Church, both clergy and laity, hopes and prays that we will be able to celebrate the days of the Holy Passion and the Resurrection of our Lord within and alongside our Churches by observing all of the appropriate health rules and the necessary measures for the protection of the supreme good of the health and the life of our fellow human beings.

It is our duty, however, to take on the responsibilities that belong to each and every one of us as responsible citizens and faithful Christians.

I will say it again with all the strength of my heart: for each of us to receive the vaccine, especially those of us who are elderly, is not only an act of individual responsibility, but also an act of Christian solidarity and love for our neighbor.

As Christians, we are a people who are absolutely free to make our own choices. And God desires for us to make use of our insight and understanding to always choose that which is good. When we receive the vaccine, making the best use of this gift of God and of science to mankind, we choose the good.

The end of the pandemic is near. Let us bring it nearer. Let us speed its arrival by being vaccinated. Each and every person who is vaccinated, with this act of love for God, self, and neighbor, points us towards the quickest way out of this great national and global ordeal.

The vaccine gives us the ability to restore normalcy in our lives, along with the human embrace that we have missed so much.

We the clergy first of all must give the good example. We must make sure that everyone understands that the teaching of the Gospel is falsified and tainted by those who, through naivety or selfishness, attempt through myths and conspiracy theories, to deceive and to instill fear in their fellow human beings. 

Originally published in Greek by Romfea

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