Coronavirus: Archbishop slams those who say vaccines work of the devil

Archbishop Chrysostomos on Sunday berated people who say having a coronavirus vaccine is like putting the devil in us.

“How can the devil go inside us when we have Christ, when we have True Love, Christ?” the Archbishop asked. “This is what we say when we do not have true faith in Christ, when we do not believe in his resurrection… and we question the omnipotence of God himself,” the Archbishop said.

The Archbishop on Sunday morning led the service at Ayios Neofytos church in Tala, Paphos.

Faith, the Archbishop said, contributed to the miracles outlined in the Bible. Referring to how a paralysed man was cured, he said miracles are performed on the one hand by faith, which is always accompanied by love.“The man of faith, because he truly believes in the Providence of God, never limits himself, but offers himself for others,” the Archbishop said.Faith in God, he added, helps people overcome.The man who has Christ inside him is not scared of anything, the primate said, “not even the devil”.

Last month the Archbishop said it was people’s Christian duty to get vaccinated.

He said it was everyone’s moral obligation to overcome individualism, self-centrism, fears, and prejudices, and unite in a common effort to tackle the pandemic by willingly obeying the health services.

“This is dictated by our Christian duty, which is the fulfillment of the highest commandment, love towards each human.”

The statement “emphatically” reiterated the Holy Synod decision of December 1, 2020, to recommend vaccinations after it was briefed by experts.