Professor Mossialos,
I am a Greek Orthodox Christian living in America and have become aware of your recent insult and blasphemy that was directed at the most holy Virgin Mother of God. I am a person who is fully vaccinated and has received the booster shot. I also wear a mask in consideration of the safety of other people. I am not quite sure why you felt the need to make a tasteless joke about the most holy Theotokos.
Apparently, you believe it is fine to ridicule and insult Christians. Permit me to tell you what many scientists and doctors here in America believe. I live in a country where scientists and doctors are telling us that it is possible for men to become pregnant. There are those who also believe that there may be as many as sixty three genders or more. Even worse, there are people in the field of science and medicine who are attempting to use these theories to experiment on minor children. In some American states, it is legal for children as young as thirteen years old to “transition” to the opposite gender without permission from their parents.
Saint Paul, the holy apostle who brought the light of Christ to our beloved Greek homeland wrote, “For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.” ( 1 Corinthians 1:25). On Christmas we celebrated the birth of the incarnate logos who took the flesh of man in order to bring about the redemption of man. The redemption of man was needed because man as a creature fell into sin. Men have fallen repeatedly throughout the course of history and we have seen the fall of man yet again as a result of the worldwide pandemic for which some scientists are indisputably responsible for.
It is well known that American and other scientists were funding gain of function research in the lab in Wuhan. Distinguished scientists such as yourself should carry on working to put an end to the pandemic. The Orthodox Churches throughout the world have been offering up prayers for scientists and doctors and the sick throughout this entire crisis. It is unclear why you would presume to insult the most Holy Theotokos.
In addition, your insult to the Christian faith betrays an attitude of arrogance and elitism. Worldwide, there is a dangerous division between the scientific-medical communities and ordinary people. Blasphemous pictures on social media that insult Christians everywhere do nothing to put an end to this division. It is necessary for people of differing beliefs to work together for the common good. Your disrespect for the Virgin Mary betrays this goal.
The above mentioned quote of the holy Apostle makes very clear that man is nothing before God. The end of the pandemic will be hastened by the grace of God to whom Christians throughout the world direct their prayers. We believe in miracles. We believe in the glory of God and in the miracle of the incarnation. We believe that Mary the Mother of God was indeed a Virgin. With God all things are possible and we believe that through the power of faith this pandemic will be eradicated.
Christ is born! Glorify him!
Theodore Karakostas
Boston, MA
USA