ENHCC
European Network of Health Care Chaplaincy
Health Care Chaplaincy
in the Orthodox Church of Greece
2002 Standards Document in Greek
In 2010 the Pastoral Training Foundation was established in the Holy Archdiocese of Athens under the aegis and active Chairmanship of HB Ieronymos, Archbishop of Athens and All Greece. This new service, whose main task is "to shepherd the shepherds", "aims at the training, the education, the edification, the pastoral specialization and lifelong learning of the clergy, both of those to be ordained and those in office, as well as of the lay staff of the Holy Archdiocese of Athens”
(Government Gazette no. B 1011/28.05.2009). Father Adamantios Avgoustidis was rightly appointed its Director General, as it was he who suggested and set up this initiative in the first place.
Within this formal framework, during last term, covering the first months of experimental operation of the Foundation, lectures were given on topics such as Ecclesiastical Administration, Voluntary Ministration to Patients, Catechetics, Exomology (Holy Confession), Kerygma - Homiletics, Support and Training of Lay Staff of Pastoral Work, Hospital Chaplaincy and Pastoral Care for Special Issues, whereas new subjects are expected to enrich this programme in the forthcoming term. After the successful completion of the first term, as proven by the satisfactory attendance and the genuine interest of attendees in the lectures and discussions offered, the plan now is to lay increasing emphasis not only on the pastoral and theological aspects but on the practical component of the courses, particularly of those pertaining to and supporting the difficult task of chaplaincy in Greece.
It was thus soon realized by all those involved that the Pastoral Training Foundation provided the ideal ground for the coordination, supervision and reinvigoration of healthcare chaplaincy, since it came to be not merely the new meeting point and centre of reference of hospital chaplains (initially those based in Athens and referring to the Archdiocese) but also a reliable organization which they could confidently turn to for both spiritual and practical support, training and updated information; and, most importantly, an exciting forum for the exchange of their unique experiences and insights, as well as for the expression of views, proposals and new ideas. Furthermore, chaplains were happy to find that this new organisation was receptive to and even encouraged their constructive feedback, thus contributing to the "bottom up" approach adopted by the present Archbishop, namely one that works from the grassroots, from the large number of clergy and laity working together, causing a decision to arise from their joint involvement, a decision that will be tailored, as much as possible, to their own needs as our brethren express them.
In addition, over the last years we run a Programme of Voluntary Ministration to Patients (around 350 voluntiers) which operates within the framework of the Holy Archdiocese of Athens and in close co-operation with the Pastoral Training Foundation. Its task is to provide companionship, care and nourishment to patients, keeping the best possible safety standards for them, for healthcare areas, the volunteers and the patients s families. Volunteers work under the close supervision and support of our social workers and of healthcare services. As regards our cooperation with hospitals, they do not act in an independent manner. They offer voluntary services only upon request from the Healthcare Services concerned. Each time they are invited to care for a new patient, our social workers pay him or her a visit and, in collaboration with the healthcare staff,re-evaluate the case and integrate it in our services. The Hospital then receives a detailed daily report showing the volunteers’ names, time scheduling, clinics and patients’ names.
Representative of the Church of Greece to the ENHCC:
Rev. Dr Adamantios G Avgoustidis,MD, PhD, Psychiatrist, Theologian, elected as associate Professor at the University of Athens and priest (protopresbyter) in the Orthodox Christian Church of Greece.
Fr Adamantios served as the Director of the "Psychiatric and Pastoral Care Service" of the Centre for Mental Health (C.M.H.) of Athens, Supervisor of a Deinstitutionalization program for long-term and severe institutionalized mental patients ("Boarding House Unit of Levadia"- a rehabilitation program for chronic psychotic patients) and of the National “Foster Families Program” of the C.M.H. Presently, and later as member of the Board of Directors of the C.M.H. He is Associate Professor of Psychology, Psychiatry and Pastoral Theology at the School of Theology at the University of Athens. He had been the president of "European Council for Pastoral Care and Counseling" (ECPCC) and now member of its Steering Committee. Apart from his academic position, he is the General Director of the "Pastoral Training Foundation" of the Holy Archdiocese of Athens, Greece. Among other activities, the foundation offers training and supervision to the hospital chaplains of the Archdiocese. He is also a member of the synodal committee for pastoral care issues,working on a global proposal for the renovation of hospital chaplaincy in Greece.
[September 2010]