On March 23, 2021, in Kyiv, His Beatitude Sviatoslav, the Head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, met with Deputy Minister of Health of Ukraine Iryna Mykychak. The meeting took place at the request of Mrs. Mykychak.
During the meeting, the Primate of the UGCC on behalf of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church thanked the doctors for their courageous work and professionalism, as well as for the fact that in the context of a new wave of pandemics they are doing everything to save lives.
The Head of the Church told the Deputy Minister that last Saturday our Church prayed for the victims of the pandemic . "During the all-church prayer for the victims of the pandemic, we, in particular, prayed for the doctors who gave their lives in the fight against the coronavirus," he said.
During the conversation, the issue of vaccination was discussed, in particular the vaccination of the clergy. The Father and the Head of the UGCC thanked the clergy for the opportunity to be vaccinated with the remaining dose of the vaccine. He also confirmed the position of the UGCC on vaccination and commented on the position of the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations. "Vaccination must be voluntary, accessible and safe. There is no religious reason to refuse vaccination," the Head of the Church stressed.
The parties also discussed the cooperation of the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations with the Ministry of Health, in particular the functioning of the public council at the Ministry.
At the end of the conversation, the parties exchanged views on the role and place of the Church in creating a culture of health in a pandemic.