Vaccination against coronavirus has no religious significance, therefore the Georgian Orthodox Church does not prohibit its parishioners from giving it, but stands exclusively for voluntary vaccination. This is stated in the official statement of the Georgian Patriarchate.

The Church recalled the decision of the Holy Synod, which expressed its attitude to vaccination against coronavirus, and also called on the clergy not to influence the choice of believers in any way.

“We will reiterate that the vaccine has no religious significance. Thus, it is unacceptable for a clergyman to prohibit believers from performing this procedure for religious reasons or to restrict the sacrament because they were vaccinated, ”the Georgian Patriarchate said.

At the same time, the GOC is against compulsory COVID vaccination, regardless of its motives, therefore, they called on to protect the God-given right to freedom of choice.

“The Church cannot support compulsory vaccination, whatever the reason it is dictated. Everyone should be able to make free choices. This is an inviolable right given by God and must be protected, ”the statement of the Georgian Church says.

Earlier, the Georgian president accused the GOC of “insufficiently active propaganda for vaccination.”

translation