Speaking at the annual Conference of the Moscow Diocese Clergy, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia touched upon the issue of vaccination. 

“I know that issues of vaccination against the new coronavirus infection has caused widespread concerns and differences in the whole of our society, including the clergy and the laity."

"Some believe vaccination should be made compulsory, while others say it must be a matter of free choice, and still others consider it unnecessary or even objectionable,” His Holiness observed.

“As you know, last year I was vaccinated on doctors' recommendations. At the same time, I am convinced that being vaccinated (or not), has nothing to do with our Faith,” he continued. “This is a purely medical issue, a matter of personal choice and responsibility of an individual, something more to do with one's life experience.”

"Therefore," the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church stressed, “even if the whole world is turned into an arena of segregation based on immune status, the Church should stay out of it and accept everyone who is coming to Christ.”

“At the same time, disseminating deliberately insufficient and inaccurate information about the effects of vaccines, as well as spreading unverified rumors and myths about the consequences of vaccination, should be defined as the sin of lying,” concluded Patriarch Kirill.