During the meeting of the Eparchial Council, chaired by His Eminence Most Rev. Fr. Andrei, on 17 April 2021, the current problems of the diocese and the implications of vaccination in the context of the Covid19 pandemic were discussed.
The annual meeting of the Eparchial Council of the Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Austria and Switzerland took place on Saturday 17 April, according to a press release. At the beginning of the meeting the members of the Eparchial Council prayed for the recovery of those affected by Covid19 and for the repose of those who have died from the virus. The press release states that many of the faithful heeded the call of their hierarch, Most Reverend Father Andrei, to respect the measures imposed by the state authorities in the countries where they live. The priests were also congratulated for their involvement in the good organisation of church life during the pandemic.
In the context of the questions raised about the importance of the vaccine, the Eparchial Council issued the following view: "We call on all the faithful to view the vaccination process from a medical point of view only. Accordingly, everyone should pay full attention to all relevant information about the production of vaccines and the vaccination process itself. In this regard, the Diocesan Council appeals to the faithful to listen to the advice of medical professionals and state authorities in the countries in which we live. It must be stressed again that vaccination is not seen as a matter of faith".
Source: crkva.at orthodoxie.com
