Greek Prosecutor to investigate case of Athonites opposing vaccinations

Monks could be tried for speaking out against vaccines. Photo: vimaorthodoxias.gr

The Prosecutor's Office of Thessaloniki has initiated a case against the monks of Mount Athos who oppose vaccinations against coronavirus, reports Vima Orthodoxias.

The intervention of the Prosecutor's Office of Thessaloniki was caused by the statements of the Athos monk Joseph, who reported about the monks urging Christians not to be vaccinated.

According to the hieromonk, “these monks who go out and confess have killed many people,” as they “advise people not to get vaccinated and claim that the coronavirus is just a flu”.

Based on these allegations, the head of the Prosecutor's Office of Thessaloniki initiated an investigation to identify the anti-vaccination monks and determine whether their actions constituted a crime.

It should be noted that in the course of the investigation, the applicant, hieromonk Joseph, will be asked to name specific individuals and indicate when and what they said in order to open a criminal investigation against them.

Earlier, the Greek media reported about the position of famous Athonites regarding vaccinations.

Read also

Metropolitan Longin to Zelensky: Release my son from TRC

Metropolitan Longin (Zhar) of Bancheny addressed an appeal to the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky.

Prayers further offered for imprisoned UOJ journalists at Lavra's standing

People pray to the Lord to protect the "prisoners of conscience" from all sorrow, trouble, need, and illness.

Metropolitan Theodosiy's house arrest extended

The bishop participated in the hearing via videoconference, but opponents of the UOC were active near the courthouse.

Poll: Uniates and supporters of OCU are the most in favor of banning UOC

Among non-religious respondents, every fifth person is indifferent to this issue.

Dumenko and Zoria discuss combating "Russian World" with Minister of Culture

Tochytskyi and representatives of the OCU discussed countering Russia’s attempts to destroy Ukraine's national identity.

Greek theologian: Religious situation in Ukraine divides Orthodoxy

According to the Greek theologian, "many Ukrainian Orthodox worshippers have been hesitant to leave the church under the Moscow Patriarchate and join the independent Orthodox Church of Ukraine, fearing a potential excommunication for being schismatics."