ENHCC
European Network of Health Care Chaplaincy
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Health Care Chaplaincy in the Ecumenical Patriarchate (Orthodox Church) |
The Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople has been the centre of Christianity throughout the history of the Eastern Church and Hellenism, from the time of the First Ecumenical Synod (325 AD) down to the third millennium. It is the "First See" among the earliest Patriarchates of Eastern Christendom and the Autocephalous Orthodox Churches. Under the leadership of the Ecumenical Patriarch, Bartholomew I, its immediate Patriarchal jurisdiction is around Constantinople and Asia Minor, but in essence, it does not have geographical boundaries. This makes its character truly ecumenical in nature. Within the realm of Europe, subject to the Patriarchate are the Churches of Great Britain (including Ireland and Malta), France and the Iberian Peninsula, Germany, Austria and Hungary, Scandinavia, Belgium, Switzerland, Italy, Northern Greece, the Southern Greek Islands and Crete.
(See: www.pastoralhealth-ep.com/metropolises/ )
Throughout its history, the Church of Constantinople was intertwined with the care of the sick and health care chaplaincy. In Byzantium, the Church established many hospitals and hostels that facilitated the needs of those who were suffering. After the fall of the Eastern Christian Empire, the role of the Patriarchate became more vital in meeting the demands for philanthropic health care. Orthodox Christians played a major role in the Ottoman Empire, establishing hospitals and parish centred health services.
Today, this long tradition remains alive. Within the modern city of Istanbul, the Ecumenical Patriarchate oversees the Baloukli General Hospital, which also includes a psychiatric hospital and a home for the aged. In countries that are dominated by an Orthodox populace, each Metropolis offers many services, ranging from homes for the aged to home care services. Clergymen work closely with the laymen in managing all of these services. In Greece, where the populous is mostly Orthodox, the majority of the hospitals are operated by the State. An assigned priest serves these hospitals. In many cases, these priests serve as full time chaplains paid by the State. In the jurisdictions of the diaspora (those which are outside of the realm of Constantinople, Asia Minor and Greece) the residing Orthodox Christians are a minority. Because of this, the local parish priest, who heads a very close-knitted community, offers pastoral health care to the Orthodox Christians in need.
(See: www.pastoralhealth-ep.com/philanthropiccenters/modern/) In many Metropolises of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, there is a clergyman specifically assigned to coordinating pastoral healthcare. www.pastoralhealth-ep.com/metropolises/
The majority of the priests who serve the sick have received some type of pastoral education within their theological training. Presently, there are no specific formal qualifications or standards for those who administer to the sick. The priests who serve hospitals and other healthcare facilities are chosen according to their spiritual competence and discretion. Many of them have created a sound and well rounded tradition of pastoral health care worthy of high appraisal. The parish priests are expected to have, and, in most cases, do have a high sense of pastoral consciousness. (See: www.pastoralhealth-ep.com/pastoraled/)
In order for our Church to continue providing high quality pastoral care to the suffering, it is necessary that all those who are involved in caring for the will to unite their efforts and pastoral concerns, to become more aware of the dynamics, developments and prospects of health care and to improve the spiritual care they offer. The rapid progress in medical science, the increasing concern in the spiritual dimension of illness and the need to cooperate with other faiths and health organizations on a world-wide multidisciplinary level makes this need even more essential. Realizing this necessity, the Hold Synod of the Ecumenical Throne decided to hold the first “International Conference on Pastoral Health Care of the Ecumenical Patriarchate”. It was held in Rhodes between the 8th and 12th of October 2008. Representatives from all the Metropolises throughout the world that belong to the Ecumenical Patriarchate attended (clergy, doctors and others that serve in the sensitive area of health care), together with representatives from the Churches of Greece, Cyprus, Albania, representatives from other denominations and other health care providers.
(See: www.pastoralhealth-ep.com/conferences/)
After the Conference of Rhodes, His All-Holiness, the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, with the firm conviction and commitment which characterizes his pastoral identity, took the initiative to form a Network of the Ecumenical Patriarchate for Pastoral Health Care. Such a network will give the opportunity to all who minister to the sick to benefit from sharing their knowledge and experience and to improve their training. Together with this, the network will contribute to the further development of ministering to the sick with high quality pastoral care. (See: www.pastoralhealth-ep.com/)
The aims of the network are:
1) To form a clearer understanding of Orthodox theology in relation to pastoral health care
2) A more systematic account of the pastoral care offered in hospitals and health care facilities by Orthodox clergy and lay people.
3) The formation a dialogue of chaplains and pastoral caretakers with other health care professionals
Efforts are also being made to also form a closer working relationship with chaplains of other Faiths and denominations, especially in the areas of Europe where Orthodox are a minority. Health care chaplaincy is on the agenda of the Orthodox-Muslim dialogue which is underway.
Representing the Ecumenical Patriarchate at the Anniversary Consultation of the European Network of Health Care Chaplaincy in London is Fr Stavros Kofinas Coordinator of the Network of the Ecumenical Patriarchate for Pastoral Health Care. He is a priest (protopresbyter) and a practicing psychotherapist with a wide experience in the area of health care chaplaincy. After his studies in theology, clinical psychology and pastoral psychiatric care, he served for many years as a chaplain in a general hospital in Athens. He has organized and taken part in many educational seminars and training programs for clergy, doctors, nurses and social workers. Presently Fr Kofinas is the celebrant at the Monastery of St Meletios of Kitherona. He established and supervised the clergy of the pastoral program for the Hospital of Elefsis, serves as a supervising consultant for the Counselling Program of the Metropolis of Peristeri, and is very active in the area of psychotherapy.
He first attended the European Consultation of Hospital Chaplaincy, which took place in Rome. On behalf of the Ecumenical Patriarch, he headed the organization of the 6th Consultation, which took place in Crete, and took part in the organisational committee for the 7th Consultation in Finland, where he was elected as Coordinator of the ENHCC. . He was re-elected Coordinator at the 8th Consultation in Dublin in 2004 for four years and the 10th Consultation in Estonia for another two years.
Contact information:
Rev. Dr. Stavros Kofinas
Coordinator of the Network of the Ecumenical Patriarchate for
Pastoral Health Care
Address:
Lycias 3
171 24 Nea Smyrni
Greece
Phone: +30-6944 57 3625
Fax: +30 – 210 93 74 217
Email: info@epphc.com
Website: www.pastoralhealth-ep.com/
[September 2010]
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