Update on the Vaccinations of the Monks on Mount Athos

Below is an update to my last post, due to popular request.

The Pfizer vaccines arrived at the Karyes Health Center on Friday and the vaccinations started immediately, and they should be completed within a week.

The second dose is scheduled for within the first ten days of April.

About 500 people, mostly monks, but also lay people who have been living on Mount Athos for a long time, have received the vaccine so far.

Monks of Mount Athos Begin to be Vaccinated

A Coast Guard boat delivered the first 400 doses of the Pfizer vaccine on Friday, March 19, to Mount Athos and vaccinations began immediately.

The vaccination center was set up at the Health Center in Karyes under the supervision of the director, Konstantinos Dokouslis.

The first 36 monks were vaccinated on Friday, as well as employees-collaborators of monasteries, while the vaccinations will continue daily.

The abbot of the Holy Monastery of Esphigmenou, Archimandrite Bartholomew, was the first to be vaccinated, followed by monks from the Monasteries of Iveron, Koutloumousiou, Simonos Petras, who were there especially for this purpose in Karyes.

The Orthodox Church and Science Today: An Interview With Metropolitan Hierotheos of Nafpaktos (2 of 2)

...continued from part one.

K.H.: So we are to understand, Your Eminence, with what you are telling us that beyond the pandemic, the vaccine, the lockdown, all these situations we live in, there are a number of other issues that have to do with the relationship between theology and science and between the Church and the State.

M.H.: Do you want me to be more raw in how I say it? I don't know if it will provoke. When we say the word "superstition", what do we mean? If you open Babiniotis' dictionary you will see that superstition is the irrational belief in supernatural and mysterious forces that rule the world and affect our lives. This is superstition, where they do not believe in the real God, or that God rules the world, but it is directed by some invisible forces. And this is an expression of religion. Religion, said Father John Romanidis, has the element of mysticism, superstition and magic. Why? Because, when one believes that there are supernatural forces, mysterious, impersonal forces that rule the world and influence people, UFOs and whatever else, then immediately magic follows.

The Orthodox Church and Science Today: An Interview With Metropolitan Hierotheos of Nafpaktos (1 of 2)

 

This was a recorded interview by the journalist Katerina Houzouri with Metropolitan Hierotheos of Nafpaktos on the issue of Orthodoxy and Science regarding contemporary issues, conducted for the Radio Station of the Church of Greece on 4 January 2021.

 

Katerina Houzouri: We have the special pleasure and honor to host His Eminence the Metropolitan of Nafpaktos and Agiou Vlasiou Mr. Hierotheos. Your Eminence, we wish you a Happy New Year.

Metropolitan Hierotheos: Good morning to you and the listeners. May you be well, have strength, health and most importantly have inspiration. This is very important because all our saints talk about inspiration. That is, the Christian, as both Saint Porphyrios and Saint Sophronios said, resembles the poet. Just as the poet and the artist is inspired, when he starts in the morning, he is inspired and he begins to create his work, so we must be inspired for God, for life, for love and for God, and so on. It is something I would like to emphasize today at the beginning to the listeners and offer my wish: Let us have spiritual inspiration.

"A Blessing and Gift of God": Metropolitan Seraphim of Piraeus Is Vaccinated

 

On Friday, 15 January 2021, Metropolitan Seraphim of Piraeus was the first in his Metropolis to receive the vaccination against Covid-19, in a symbolic move to give assurance to all in his Metropolis to likewise be vaccinated. This was done before the administrative and nursing staff, as well as the residents, of the Piraeus Nursing Home, which has been in operation for 130 years, were vaccinated.

"The advancement of science in the service of man is always a blessing and a gift from God," said the Metropolitan.

The New Vaccine Against the Coronavirus from a Scientific Perspective

 

The following information was published 

by the Metropolis of Nafpaktos

Vaccination throughout Europe and in our country began on 27 December 2020 and continues. Our Metropolitan [Hierotheos of Nafpaktos and Agiou Vlasiou] was among the first to be vaccinated and in fact the first of the Hierarchs and all the Clergy of the Church, after he asked three specialist University professors in Greece and four professors-researchers in American Universities regarding the safety of the vaccine, and after his own study of the scientific texts. He recorded his views on the subject in a text titled "Why I Was Vaccinated", which has been published.

Why I Was Vaccinated (Metropolitan Hierotheos of Nafpaktos)

 

 

Why I Was Vaccinated

 

By Metropolitan Hierotheos of Nafpaktos and Agiou Vlasiou

 

I am one of the first in Greece to get the new vaccine and with this text I wanted to express some of my thoughts that led me to this.

1. The Pandemic as War

For about a year we have been suffering from the new coronavirus (sars-cov2) which causes covid-19 disease, and has created many problems in the Church, society and the family. The economic, psychological and, above all, the social consequences are great and no one can number and surpass them.

During the first period of the pandemic, when I was a representative of the Church, I was given the opportunity to see all the issues related to the new virus, and the effects it has on people, society and the Church.

Epidemiology Professor: No Scientific Study That Proves COVID-19 is Transmitted Through Holy Communion

 

 

Speaking on ERT TV last week, Athena Linou, Professor of Epidemiology at the School of Public Health of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and President of the Institute of Prevention, was asked whether it was possible that COVID-19 was transmitted through Holy Communion.

The professor stressed that there was no epidemiological study that proves such a thing.

Specifically referring to the issue of Holy Communion in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, Athena Linou noted: “I have to admit that there is no epidemiological study that proves that the disease is transmitted through ingestion of saliva, including the virus itself. There is no study.”

Book Recommendation: "Journey of a Doctor: In Search of the Spiritual Dimension of the Medical Profession"

Journey of a Doctor: In Search of the Spiritual Dimension of the Medical Profession

By Stylianos D Poyiadjis

The Journey of a Doctor is a book of Eastern Orthodox spirituality. A doctor is searching for the spiritual dimension of the medical profession and for the necessary qualities required by a doctor in practicing his mission. The search takes the doctor to holy places where, in discussion with wise and enlightened gerontes (elders), he gets answers to the multitude of his questions. He gets answers on the virtues of prayer, humility, love, compassion and conscientiousness in practicing his profession. He gets further clarity on his relationship with the patient, with the patient’s family, with his own family, with himself. He also gets answers on material issues, ethical dilemmas and how to face adverse outcomes.This book is addressed, not only to doctors, but also to anyone who at some stage will fall ill and will need medical attention. It is encouraging when the patient realizes the spiritual battle of his treating doctor and his titanic efforts to offer cure and relief. The spiritual benefits of illness to the patient, to the doctor and their immediate environment are of great importance.

PURCHASE HERE

Vaccination and the Virus of Misinformation

On Thursday 14 May 2020 an Informational Clergy-Laity Synaxis took place at the Holy Metropolis of Nafpaktos and Agiou Vlasiou in view of the opening of the churches for the participation of the faithful in the Holy Mysteries following the closing of the churches to the faithful due to the coronavirus crisis. It took place in the Church of Saint Paraskevi in Nafpaktos and it was presided over by His Eminence Metropolitan Hierotheos of Nafpaktos and Agiou Vlasiou, who recently was the official spokesperson for these issues in the Church of Greece. After the discussion he was asked the following question, which is followed by his response:

Scientific Studies on the Transmission of Infectious Diseases Through Holy Communion

Often when discussing the issue of the possibility of the transmission of infectious diseases through Holy Communion, anecdotal evidence at best is presented, though usually it is more about speculations and personal beliefs. However, since the late 19th century there have been numerous scientific studies that actually give us hard scientific evidence. Most of these studies have been done in Anglican, Methodist and Lutheran churches with their debate of many decades regarding the use of the common communion cup. Using the common cup is similar to using a common spoon by Orthodox Christians. However, with the Orthodox practice, it can be added that after each communicant receives communion the priest dips the spoon in warmed wine before communicating the Holy Gifts again, which can serve as a disinfectant; this important factor is not determined in the conclusions of the studies below. Also, for those Orthodox Christians who argue for the miraculous properties of the Holy Gifts, the studies below should eliminate this factor and examines it by its physical properties alone. It is only on this basis that conclusions can be drawn. As far as I know, no such study has been done with the Orthodox practice, which should be considered.

Where Did Viruses Come From?

The Spread of the Coronavirus and its Consequences on the Life of the Church During Great Lent

Metropolitan Nicholas (Hatzinikolaou) 

of Mesogaia and Lavreotiki

February 27, 2020

There is a widespread upheaval these days which is on the rise around the world on the occasion of a new type of virus, which is unfortunately being reproduced and magnified by the media, with the Prime Minister even being forced to declare: "The biggest opponent is not the coronavirus but panic." Indeed this is more easily transmitted than viruses!

Protecting our health is certainly not a bad thing. Panic is the evil. Preventive measures and prudence have nothing to do with it. Inattention or exaggeration is the problem.

The Views of Orthodox Theology on Bioethical Issues (5 of 6)

...continued from part four.

6. Biomedical and Medical Research

1) From the views of various scientists, researchers and specialists in biomedical and medical research connected with patents, biobanks and clinical trials, it is clear that all research is implicated in different forms of interdependence with corporations and research centers. These things are not as natural as some people claim. Apart from some well-disposed researchers motivated by an interest in dealing with problems afflicting humankind, there are others who place all research in the context of vested interests and commercial gain. There is a difference between scientists in the past and those of recent times, because corporations and universities complicate the issues.