Patr. Daniel Praises Healthcare Workers, Addresses Euthanasia
The primate of the Bulgarian Church honored healthcare workers while reaffirming the Orthodox Church’s firm opposition to euthanasia.
SOFIA, BULGARIA — Patr. Daniel of Bulgaria praised doctors, nurses, and medical staff as people who stand “on the front lines of human suffering” during a prayer service for healthcare workers at the Patriarchal Cathedral of St. Alexander Nevsky on May 12, 2026.
The service, held on International Nurses’ Day, brought together clergy of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church alongside representatives of the Military Medical Academy and healthcare institutions. Patr. Daniel emphasized that the foundation of good medical care is not only professional skill, but also humanity, faith, and dedicated attention to those who are sick and suffering. He described physicians as “collaborators with God” who care for both body and soul.
He also urged prayer for medical workers, saying the Church asks God to strengthen those serving in hospitals and clinics, especially amid ongoing shortages in the profession and growing demands on healthcare systems. This annual prayer service for healthcare workers was introduced by the Holy Synod in 2024 and is now observed across dioceses as a sign of spiritual support for the medical community.
Turning to ethical issues in medicine, Patr. Daniel addressed euthanasia directly, saying that it is unacceptable from an Orthodox Christian perspective and for Orthodox healthcare professionals. He stressed that suffering, even in its most severe forms, carries meaning within the Christian understanding of life.
“The Orthodox faith teaches us that even the most severe suffering in a person’s life has its own meaning,” he said, pointing to Christ as the model of sacrificial love and care for humanity.
Previously, the UOJ reported that Patr. Daniel visited Samtavro Monastery in Georgia.
