After growing up in an agnostic home, then spending 10 years (1972-82) in a New Age type of cult, then becoming an evangelical Christian (1983-2015), I was finally delighted to find a home in the Eastern Orthodox Church, the church that the West had virtually forgotten since Christianity’s East-West split of 1054 AD, the church that still worshipped in much the same manner as it had in the 4th century AD, when Constantine legalized Christianity.
I was gladly baptized and chrismated into the Greek Orthodox Church in 2017. All went well until March 13, 2020, when the COVID lockdown was imposed on America—quite “conveniently,” just in time to cancel Pascha (Easter) services for the first time in our nation’s history. While I do not wish to oversimplify matters, the hierarchic structure of Orthodoxy is basically split into self-governing ethnic divisions (Greek, Russian, Serbian, Romanian, etc.). I was deeply troubled to see the Greek Orthodox Church defer to state authority, cancelling services, then restricting the number of participants, requiring social distancing and the wearing of masks, and even altering the ancient form of liturgy, though (as we will see) the church has witnessed far worse plagues than COVID during the preceding two millennia.
An author of six books, I have been a journalist since 1985, when I began writing for The New American magazine (primarily on geopolitics). Additionally, I was a registered nurse in the state of Massachusetts for 45 years, retiring in 2019, just before COVID struck. I promptly recognized that quarantining healthy people violated centuries of sound medical practice, and that the draconian lockdown measures were inconsistent with COVID’s actual level of threat. These measures were, however, consistent with the gradual transformation of our culture into an Orwellian police state with suspension of civil liberties combined with economic chaos—”the New World Order” that we in alternative media had been predicting and warning about for decades.
For myself, in March 2020 I immediately halted work on a book about 9/11 that I had spent several months on. Due to the new urgency, I instead published a book on COVID that sold over 3,500 print-on-demand copies on Amazon, in less than two months, before they censored it. Having anticipated the censorship, I had already ordered my own separate printing of the book (now in its third printing). I also gave away thousands of free electronic copies in MOBI, EPUB and PDF formats; have added more than 250 updates on my website, delivered a public PowerPoint on COVID this April, and recently published a blog post consisting entirely of graphics and very short videos on COVID.
This current blog post, meant especially for Orthodox Christians, consists of statements (video or written) by Orthodox authorities—many from Greece—opposing the COVID lockdowns and alterations to liturgy. (It may be helpful for some to recall that the time spent watching videos can be shortened by increasing the playback speed under “settings.”)
Before I cite these religious figures, I wish to point out that innumerable scientists and doctors have affirmed: the total non-necessity of the lockdowns; the gross exaggeration of the number of COVID deaths; flagrant abuse of the PCR test; suppression of (non-vaccine) treatments for COVID; and so much more. All of this is validated, with documentation, in my COVID book, my updates page, and my graphics-only blog post.
Beyond this, there are legal issues. The United States Constitution has always been the supreme law of the land in America. It cannot be altered by the President, the Congress, a state governor, a state legislature, and certainly not by local town authorities. In other words, if a state governor declared, by executive order: “I hereby abolish the right to freedom of speech,” that order would be completely invalid, as it would be superseded by the Bill of Rights within the U.S. Constitution.
Regrettably, many Americans today do not seem rudimentarily acquainted with their own rights, and live under the illusion that government bureaucrats can remove them at will. Of course, it is possible to amend the United States Constitution. That is done by introducing a Constitutional Amendment, which must be approved by at least three-quarters of the state legislatures. Many amendments have been so approved. For example, the Nineteenth Amendment, granting women the right to vote, was certified in 1920.
Regarding religion, the Constitution states unequivocally: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” Thus, not even the United States Congress possesses any authority to infringe upon religion. Most regrettable to me, many Orthodox hierarchs seem to live under the misconception that government officials have the right to close churches, limit attendance, require wearing of masks (without any proof whatsoever of their need or efficacy), and alter forms of worship that had remained essentially unchanged for more than a millennium. These hierarchs appear to believe that obedience to civil authority somehow demonstrates that the church is a “good citizen,” cooperative and compliant with the government, which they apparently view as a paternalistic protector of the church, as if we still lived under the Christian kings of Byzantium. Yet this same contemporary government, with its relentless pushes for abortion, gay marriage, transgenderism, and other assaults on Christian values, obviously shares no such yearning for solidarity with Christianity. It is certainly true that the Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 13:
Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended.
However, this passage must be understood with discernment, and in the broad context of the Scriptures. When the Sanhedrin in Jerusalem ordered the Apostles not to teach in name of Jesus, they refused, saying, “We ought to obey God rather than men.” (Acts 5:29)
We are under no constraint to submit to men who order us to disobey God. When the Bolsheviks seized control of Russia, Lenin and Trotsky became the new “civil authorities.” They murdered more than 300,000 priests and destroyed over 50,000 churches. Was this “the will of God”? Then how was it not the will of God when these priests were ordained and the churches built? And before Lenin and Trotsky, Russia was ruled by devout Orthodox czars. Was it not the Bolsheviks who contravened Paul’s counsel in Romans 13 when they overthrew and murdered Czar Nicholas II and his family? Which of these two completely opposite “civil authorities” were the ones God wished to rule? Does God act by whim, changing his preferences whenever the wind blows in a new direction?
But that’s enough from me; I’m but an Orthodox layman. I now turn to the Orthodox authorities who oppose the COVID lockdown measures.
Father Savvas Agioritis
I begin with Father Savvas because he has so many insights to share. Biography: “Archimandrite Father Savvas Agioritis began his monastic life in the Holy Kelli of the Entrance of the Theotokos in Kerasia on Mount Athos. He is also a graduate of the School of Dentistry and the School of Theology, at the University of Thessaloniki, where he completed his Masters Degree with Professor Demetrios Tselengides. Today, Father Savvas is the spiritual father of the Holy Monastery of the Holy Trinity in the Diocese of Edessa, in northern Greece.” (source)
Here, at a public protest, Father Savvas speaks out publicly against Freemasonry (longtime enemy of Orthodoxy), mandatory vaccinations, the New World Order, Bill Gates, and the lies of television. He calls the COVID vaccine “the little devil.” 9 minutes long.
For some contrast, here is an interview with Elder Savvas. He discusses whether or not one can get infected in church from Communion or kissing icons; he addresses masks at length—noting that, among other things, they insult the Holy Spirit. He points out that the church said come to church during past plagues. He says it is better to commune in a church doing the liturgy correctly, even if this means traveling greater distances and communing less often. Sorry, the English captions in this video are in fine print. 22 minutes.
For those who may be interested, here is an elaboration by Elder Savvas (audio only, but with easily readable captions) of the Serbian bishop who brought a suitcase of masks to a monastery, and told the abbot to wear one while administering the Eucharist. When the abbot refused, the bishop masked up and said he would do it himself. A fire then broke out, catching the bishop in its flames, and he dropped the Holy Gifts. Elder Savvas also recounts the prophecy of Father Vasileios of Kafsokalyyia—to whom the renowned Saint Paisios gave his prayer rope, asking him to continue his work. In 2009, Father Vasileios prophesied “carnivals” (the wearing of masks) in churches and the persecution of those who would not abide. Father Savvas also speaks of visions recently seen (by others) concerning masks, and addresses briefly the alleged “science” surrounding the COVID crisis. 15 minutes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLR-f9jEkMg
And for those who would prefer just to read, here is the transcript of a sermon by Father Savvas entitled “On Masks and Other Unacceptable Innovative Practices Introduced into Orthodox Worship as a result of COVID, Concluding with Advice on the COVID Vaccines.”
Voices from Mount Athos
Mount Athos is an autonomous state of 20 monasteries in Greece. Christian presence in the location dates back more than a thousand years. Few would dispute that Mount Athos is the bastion of Greek Orthodoxy. Here Elder Lulian of Mount Athos speaks out against “the little devil” (COVID vaccine). 2 minutes.
In April 2020, one of the most respected figures on Mount Athos, Elder Evthymios of Kapsala, wrote an epistle concerning how the Orthodox Church should respond to the coronavirus, which I quote in part:
In older times and in similar cases of deadly epidemics, she [the church] would perform sanctifications of the waters (αγιασμός) and go out in procession with the sacred icons and holy relics. Why should these not be done today as well? “Is the Lord’s hand unable” to help us in these days too (cf. Is. 59:1)?
During the third decade of the twentieth century, my village was struck by a plague which killed fifty little children in a few days. They could not dig the graves fast enough.
Then they brought the skull of Saint Charalampes from Saint Stephen’s in Meteora and the plague immediately ceased.
Ever since the Lord performed the Mystical Supper and handed down the most holy mystery of the Divine Eucharist, the world-saving Divine Liturgy has not ceased to be celebrated to this day.
Neither Diocletian, nor the Turks, nor the communists in Russia, nor the Germans during the years of the occupation managed to stop the Divine Liturgy and the faithful from approaching Holy Communion.
And now, with the fear of the virus, the churches have closed down and the faithful are deprived of the saving grace of the mysteries, of which they have so great a need. On the contrary, while everyone here [in Greece] remains fearfully silent, in the Orthodox Churches of Serbia, Bulgaria, and Georgia divine worship continues unhindered, the churches are open, Divine Liturgy is celebrated, and the faithful are not afraid of being affected by the virus.
The protective measures employed by the present government are unconstitutional, unbearable, extreme, and unfair to the Greek Orthodox, while they have also created an atmosphere of terrorism, which the media aggravate.
Yes, the virus exists and we must protect our health and the health of those around us. Fear, however, must vanish, because when man is in a state of fear he cannot think and act rationally and discreetly. . . .
Many are anxiously expecting the defeat of the coronavirus by the invention of the vaccine, which will be obligatory for all. As for us, we refuse to be vaccinated.
Whoever is afraid, let him receive as many vaccines as he likes, but he should know that they may produce unforeseen and grave side-effects, as was the case a few years with the vaccines against the bird flu done to children, many of whom became paralysed.
Likewise, many of those who received the vaccine against hepatitis B contracted multiple sclerosis, and the same happens with other vaccines as well. Unless God guard us, what can vaccines and medicine do? . . .
We have superior vaccines and the “medicine of immortality,” the holy Mysteries. . . .
And while everyone is struggling to confront the virus, some people have other things in mind and as their goal. Top doctors and scientists are pointing out that what is happening is a discipline test: the goal is to manipulate the people in the direction they want.
This seemed strange and incredible until recently, but it is not imaginary, since men are now publicly saying that “The coronavirus pandemic has brought to the fore the need for a world-wide democratic government” (George Papandreou) and proposing that “each man have on him a microchip with biometrical data in relation to this virus or to other epidemic measurements” (Evangelos Venizelos).
These people are openly speaking of the mark [of the Antichrist] and world-wide dictatorship, but do we get it? And what are we doing? Saint Païsios has spoken and written so much about this topic.
Can we possibly trust these men who have enslaved us to the foreign lenders and who are now leading us into slavery to the Antichrist?3
Elder Parthenius, the abbot of St. Paul’s Monastery on Mt. Athos, has also spoken against the COVID vaccine. As summarized by Orthodox Christianity:
[T]he respected Elder emphasizes that he does not bless anyone to receive the coronavirus vaccine, because it is too much in line with what is written in Revelation 13, which describes the seal that will be required for people to buy or sell, or live an ordinary life.
The Elder notes that this is not exactly the same thing, but the similarities are apparent. It is especially telling, the Elder believes, that the companies that produce the vaccine are exempt from any liability, which is a mockery of the people.
Others can do as they please, the Elder says, but he does not give his blessing to his spiritual children to receive the vaccine.
In the video below, Elder Gabriel—a disciple of St. Paisios of Mount Athos—warns against taking the vaccine (this Bitchute video version includes a transcript). Excerpts:
Elder, what do you say about the vaccines? What is your opinion?
Elder: We are not going to be vaccinated! . . .
Elder, do you believe the vaccines are conditioning us to the mark of the antichrist?
Elder: Yes, because they are pressuring us. I have people telling me their relatives get sick, they go to the hospital, they die and they tell the relatives, we’ll pay you to sign that your relatives have died from COVID! What is this, is it valid? . . . They want to depopulate the world, this is why they create vaccines. I was told they will create many vaccines which will dominate their body and study the brain. With a click of a finger they will create hypertension and thrombosis. They want to depopulate the world, they’re scared to start a war because they’ll [the wealthy oligarchs themselves] be in danger. . . If you take the vaccine, you might not have another chance to make another mistake. How many decades have they been around for? Nobody was forced before to take the vaccines and now they’re forcing you, it’s dangerous.. . . These people aren’t trustworthy; can you trust somebody who kills embryos and puts them in vaccines, he’s capable of anything. A policeman told me, he knows a nurse who says, she sees many complications after having the vaccine including thrombosis.
Next, Abbot Philotheos of Karakallou Monastery on Mount Athos spoke out on COVID and vaccines in June 2021. Quoting the website Orthodox Christianity:
Archimandrite Philotheos, abbot of the Athonite Karakallou Monastery, the latest Athonite elder to address the topic, says in a newly-released video: “We sense that the coming of this pandemic was no accident, and in fact, that it was manufactured. And then came the vaccine, supposedly ‘to suppress the pandemic,’ but we sense that this is all being directed, is artificial, in order to achieve what they want—their ultimate purpose,” the Athonite elder says.
“And we can see in the way they are now imposing the vaccine that the dark forces have their ultimate goal. We have also been prepared for this by the Revelation of St. John the Evangelist, and we have been warned by the Apostolic Fathers who speak of the days of the Antichrist,” Abbot Philotheos continues.
This ultimate goal and purpose is the “future sealing,” Fr. Philotheos explains. “And they’re preparing for all this now. So we see in what a dictatorial way they are trying to push the vaccine! With what brainwashing from the media and the Internet! And we know they’re paying the reporters, the channels, and all that.”
“They abolish democracy, abolish human rights, abolish so many things these days. How do they reconcile all this? Under the pretext, of course, of the pandemic that they have produced,” the abbot says.
“They are already saying that the coronavirus will come even stronger in the autumn so they can influence the rest of the people! But all this troubles us and causes us, justifiably of course, to be suspicious. And that is why we see the work of the devil behind all of this,” Fr. Philotheos warns.
“We hope in the enlightenment of God and in the goodwill of many Christians and intelligent people who see this and resist it and sense that something is happening behind it all. And as you can see, many things will be revealed. The grace of God will reveal them.”
“That’s why we are pained and worried to see this situation now, and we implore God’s grace and the Panagia to guard her people, God’s people,” the elder concludes.
Many Other Orthodox Voices Speak Out
“Father Stylianos Karpathiou is a graduate of the School of Theology and Medical School of the University of Athens. He completed postgraduate studies at the Rene Descartes and Soborne IV in Paris, from which he received his Masters Degree. He holds a doctorate in Bioethics from the University of Athens. He holds the specialty of Psychiatry. He has written theological and medical (in the field of neuropsychology) books. He participates in many conferences and workshops. As a clergyman he serves in the Holy Archdiocese of Athens. He is married and the father of seven children.”1 In the following 4-minute video, he condemns the claim that the Eucharist can transmit disease, denounces the wearing of masks in church as heresy, and draws comparisons between those who fear COVID to the early Christians who faced lions in the Roman arenas.
Here is an excerpt from the biography of Father Peter Heers:
“Fr. Peter Heers is the creator and editor of the Orthodox Ethos blog, podcast, and online courses. He is also the founder and current head of Uncut Mountain Press. He and his family currently reside in Petrokerasa, Greece, a Greek mountain village outside of Thessaloniki. Fr. Peter was the instructor of Old and New Testament at Holy Trinity Orthodox Seminary in Jordanville, New York, from January of 2017 until May of 2018, and continues now as a Lecturer of Dogmatic Theology and Orthodox Ecclesiology in the Certificate of Theological Studies Program offered by Holy Trinity Seminary.”2
Father Heers has addressed the COVID situation on several occasions, but for brevity I will refer only to his August 2021 video “Why I Will Not Be Inoculated with the Experimental Drug Solution.” He gives many logical as well as theological reasons, cites a number of contemporary Orthodox elders, and closes with numerous reports of tragic deaths from COVID vaccines. 40 minutes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9n3sU_rHJA
In a question-and-answer format, Father Elpidios Vagianakis, a priest in Greece, comments about the mark of the Beast and DNA-altering vaccines. The video displays easy-to-read English as he speaks. A plain written transcript may also be found here. 34 minutes. I have placed an excerpt from the transcript beneath the video.
Excerpt:
Satan cannot gain any man’s soul, if he hasn’t won his body before. And that’s why he is trying with a thousand ways to infect our body, in order to stop being <<temple of God>> and be able to subjugate it.
So far Satan had been trying to subjugate man using his human weaknesses. So, he made man apt to many and various great sins just like debauchery, drugs, murder, magic and many more.
But every time when man [would] regret about his mistakes and God forgave him, his binds and plans were destroyed.
So now Satan had to come up with another way, where he would be able to absolutely control the mind of man, and manipulate, control and subjugate better the thoughts, the desires and the feelings of man.
Unfortunately, he has found the way. With the artificial intelligence of the computers and with an array of specific and specialized vaccines, he will horn in on the chain of the genetic code of man, the DNA and he will change it. So, the mutant-now human DNA, instead of acting under the Divine Intelligence, as God created it, will be now acting according to the commands of the artificial intelligence, which will be headed by the satanic cadre of Antichrist!
In fact, in order to control better each human separately, some parts of the code at the mutant human DNA will compose the necessary base, in order for an identity to be created, an exclusive identity, with a personal number, which will be unique for each man. This personal number upon the DNA of each man, will now on be indelible, permanent and not revocable.
In the view of Father Elpidios, we are now in the early phase of this DNA alteration, of which there will be several stages. He also advises Christians on what to do. I recommend watching the video or reading the transcript, as I find this to be a compelling interpretation of how the COVID vaccines relate to the prophecies of the Book of Revelation. They echo the attempts by Satan to alter the genetic makeup of man and animals prior to the great Flood (of Genesis 6), which I addressed in a 2015 blog post, “Making Sense of the Supernatural.”
Here is a 2021 article by Father Zechariah Lynch, an Orthodox priest, concerning the deceptions underlying the Coronavirus “pandemic” and the gradual transitioning of vaccine passports into the Mark of the Beast. He includes quotations from Father Athanasios Mitilinaios (a renowned traveling preacher and catechist in Greece, who was praised for his gift of preaching by Saint Paisios, and who passed away in 2006).
In this post, Father John Peck, pastor of All Saints of North America Orthodox Church in Sun City, Arizona, summarizes the increasing persecution of the church over COVID, and takes strong issue with bishops who compromise the historic Faith with state mandates.
His Eminence Metropolitan Ambrosios, the former Metropolitan of the Metropolis of Kalavryta and Aigialeia in northern Greece, also speaks out against those who persecute priests for resisting changes to the Faith’s traditions. Excerpt:
Holy bishops: You have become more royal than the king. [“Holier than the Pope” -tr.]
You have done more to tear down our faith and deny us Christ, with greater zeal and wrath than the anti-Christian government rules.
You lead the Church into schism.
And when a few pious clergymen resist this demonic atheistic current, reverently offering the Gifts of the Holy Mysteries as before, as immaculate as they received them from Holy Orthodoxy Tradition, with faith and trusting in the Lord, they are given a beating with the bishop’s staff—beaten with suspension, beaten with transfer, beaten by removing their offikia [clergy ranks], beaten with citations from prosecutors.
You punish pious priests. You punish the people of God by depriving them of the salvific Gifts of the Mysteries, or you make them available under certain conditions—conditions that defile and are irreverent toward the Holy Trinity. With masks, with distances and with a limited number of people, you sin against the Holy Spirit.
And the pulpits fell silent. They stopped echoing the word of Truth. They are no longer bases of Orthodox struggle. Instead, they echo government decisions and medical ultimatums. Vaccine advertising campaigns and unholy measures are broadcast by preachers and bishops.
Shame!
From Cyprus: His Eminence Metropolitan Neophytos of Morphou explained in a Sunday sermon why he is unwilling to close the churches in his Metropolis despite the latest order from the state that all churches be closed. He has also warned (below) that, just as foods have been genetically modified, COVID vaccines are designed to make us into genetically modified people (9 minutes):
As reported by the website Russian Faith, Bishop Porfiry, Vicar of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, agrees that COVID vaccines could make us into genetically modified humans, calling into question whether we will still be in the image of God, and also addresses the health risks. He stated in a sermon:
[T]here really are questions about these drugs: there are unfinished trials, and the fact that people get sick repeatedly and often severely, and the side effects. All of that has to be taken into account. So a lot of people, also for the good of their health, think it’s better to abstain from these drugs for now. . .
Totally official information. The vaccine is a genetically engineered, high-tech product. It contains proteins of matrix RNA or DNA, these agents are built into the human genome, change it, modify it, edit it. And at this point, the Christian who is responsible for his salvation must stop. We all know what genetically modified foods are. If it is a tomato, for example, it has only an outward resemblance to the fruit that was grown in our garden. But what is a genetically modified person or, if you will, a person with an edited genome? To what extent has the image of God remained intact in him? And who can guarantee that this intervention has not caused irreversible damage to our image of God?
Abbot Tryphon of All-Merciful Saviour Monastery in the State of Washington, wrote:
Given the communal nature of the Church, it is particularly alarming [that] our City, State, and Federal governments are using this COVID-19 pandemic to bar people from gathering in their temples for common worship. . . . Isolated from others, the communal nature that is an important element in what it means to be human, is lost. As humans, we are meant to be together, for it is in our lives together that we grow in mind and spirit. It is in community that we learn to love God, and it is within the corporate gathering together for the Divine Liturgy, that we collectively hear the Word of God, and receive the Life-giving Body and Blood of Our Saviour.
It is high time we clearly let those who’ve decided that liquor stores, pot shops, and drug stores [can stay open] are by far less essential to the maintenance of our souls, than the Church. A nation that forbids her people from participating in corporate worship, is a nation that is doomed.
Bishop Siluan, Primate of the Serbian Metropolitanate of Australia and New Zealand, states: “We condemn any blackmail or any coercion, including that of vaccination. Without freedom of choice there is no humanity.”
In a sermon entitled “God Does Not Allow Anyone to Be Contaminated in the Temple,” Metropolitan Kosmas of Aitolia and Akarnania (Greece) condemns the fear of COVID keeping believers from churches and the wearing of masks.
Archimandrite Father Savvas Agioritis quotes (beginning on page 3 of the document The War against God) the account of a hieromonk who took the Pfizer COVID vaccine, and afterwards had horrifying demonic experiences.
“Father Alexander F. C. Webster, PhD, was an Orthodox chaplain in the United States Army, for more than 24 years, achieving the rank of colonel. In August 2019 he retired as Dean and Professor of Moral Theology Emeritus at Holy Trinity Seminary at Jordanville, New York.”3 In 2021 he released an essay, “The Moral Peril of Taking Most COVID-19 Vaccines,” focusing primarily on the issue of the use of aborted fetal tissue in the development of these vaccines.
And here is an open letter from Orthodox priests condemning the lockdown measures—and the church’s compliance with them—including masking, restrictions on church attendance, alterations to the method of Communion, and vaccination requirements.
Voices from the Past
Abba Pambo (an esteemed monk of the 4th century), when asked about the End Times, said, in part:
They [the clergy] will neither want to imitate nor listen to the lives and counsels of Elders, but mostly, they will be all talk and say: “If we had lived in those times, we would have behaved in a similar way.” The bishops of those times will be subservient [obedient and compliant] to the powerful of the world, and they will make decisions according to the [material] gifts they receive from everywhere, and consulting the rational logic of the academics.
In a 1953 letter, Archbishop Michael of North and South America (Greek Archdiocese) explained at length that it is impossible for Communion to convey disease, unless the participant (as the Apostle Paul said) partakes unworthily. Excerpt:
During my service as Chancellor in the Archdiocese of Athens, I came to know priests who offered their services for long years in the “Sotiria” Tuberculosis Sanitarium. All of them communed the patients regularly and then consumed what was left in the Cup, without ever suffering any ill effect. This is because it is impossible for God to be the carrier of destructive germs . . . . the thought that the Life-giving and Sacred Body and Blood of Christ the Savior could be a carrier of germs is sheer delirium and blasphemy because the germs, as well as all evils—physical and moral—can be found only where the presence of God does not exist.
Saint Paisios (1924-1994) of Mount Athos was perhaps the most venerated Saint of the Greek Orthodox Church in the twentieth century. Countless people came from the world over to visit him in his humble surroundings, to seek out his spiritual advice. He stated with remarkable foresight:
And now a vaccine has been developed to combat a new disease, which will be obligatory and those taking it will be marked. . . . Later on, anyone who is not marked with the number 666 will not be able to either buy or sell, to get a loan, to get a job, and so forth. My thinking tells me that this is the system through which the Antichrist has chosen to take over the whole world, and people who are not part of this system won’t be able to find work and so on,—whether black or white or red; in other words, everyone he will take over through an economic system that controls the global economy, and only those who have accepted the seal, the mark of the number 666, will be able to participate in business dealings.4
Elder Justin Parvu of Romania (1919-2013) warned that the age of microchips is the age of Satan, and that the Apocalypse is near. 3 minutes.
Father Savvas Achilleos (passed away in 2016) was a renowned exorcist in Greece who helped many people suffering from demonic influence, occultism, magic, etc., as well as those recovering spiritually from former involvement in Freemasonry and satanism. He predicted that the Antichrist will start a man-made flu pandemic, originated by the United States government, which will be used as a pretext for administering deadly vaccines for the purpose of depopulation. 7 minutes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kV6qp8jdeUg
And for further insights from Orthodox history, some may wish to consult the article “The Error of Blind Obedience to Bishops—According to the Saints of the Orthodox Church,” by Nektarios Dapergolas, Doctor of History.
I’d like to give special thanks to the Orthodox Monastery of the Archangel Michael. I found many of the articles and videos in this post through their continuously updated website. Some will be interested in their comprehensive post “For the Orthodox Faithful Who Are Confused about COVID Vaccines,” which addresses much material not covered in my own post, including Orthodox hierarchs who advocate COVID mandates (and why those hierarchs are wrong) and recounts much history of Orthodox bishops and even synods who erred.
NOTES
1, Biography taken from the linked video.
2. “About Fr. Peter Heers,” https://saintkosmas.org/about-fr-peter-heers#:~:text=Fr.%20Peter%20Heers%20is%20the%20creator%20and%20editor,Greece%2C%20a%20Greek%20mountain%20village%20outside%20of%20Thessaloniki.
3. Biography quoted from http://www.monomakhos.com/on-covid-vaccines-and-the-church/?fbclid=IwAR0FgcVmxSDHtB6Ojt6U5MmF67XjOOBvx507pGuKNigc02HQSqKxzwkQVPA.
4. Saint Paisios, Spiritual Counsels II: Spiritual Awakening (Vasilika, Thessaloniki, Greece: Holy Monastery “Evangelist John the Theologian,” 2008), p. 204.
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