it was quite heartening to read the directive from Archbishop Mark of Philadelphia and Eastern America (Orthodox Church in America) that vaccination cannot become a prerequisite for participation in Church life. His Eminence even prohibited anyone from being asked about their status. There is much good in that statement. It is the closest to an endorsement of voluntary, informed vaccine consent that we have seen from a hierarch in the US. The statement also acknowledges that the Covid mitigation measures actually caused extreme suffering. This was quite welcome, as so many previous hierarchical statements focused only on the effects of the virus, and not the millions of victims of quarantining perfectly healthy individuals. The statement also noted the very important fact that Covid hospitalizations and deaths were already declining before vaccination became widespread. Further, the statement makes clear that there is a diversity of opinion on matters pertaining to the virus, responses, and the vaccines. Keep your judgment to yourself. That is a basis for restoring unity among the brethren that has been badly damaged. In addition, it made clear that proof of vaccination is not a requirement for attending Divine Services. Finally, the Archbishop clearly acknowledged that the vaccines are experimental. https://orthodoxreflections.com/vaccine-passports-digital-control-and-the-orthodox-christian-fight-for-freedom/