Abp. John: Good Doctors and Priests See the Human Being as a Whole

TIRANA, ALBANIA — Abp. John of Albania has emphasized the importance of treating patients as whole persons, speaking at the installation of a new director at the Orthodox Church of Albania’s medical center in Tirana.

The Orthodox Diagnostic Centre “Evangelismos” traces its origins to 1994, when the late Abp. Anastasios founded the “Saint Luke” clinic. The facility developed into a modern diagnostic and treatment center in 1999 and has since examined more than 1.5 million people, regardless of religion or nationality. It now receives approximately 6,000 patients each month. Surgeon Spyros Prifti recently assumed the position of director.

“A human being is a psychosomatic entity, which means that he has both a body and a soul, and caring for only one side distorts the person,” Abp. John said. “Good priests and good doctors see the human being as a whole. That is why the medical profession is a vocation, just as the priesthood is.”

The Archbishop also pointed to the Church’s Unmercenary Saints, who served the sick without payment, while acknowledging that medical professionals must be compensated for their work. He urged those working at the clinic to avoid greed and cooperate in developing the facility, which he said has strong equipment and dedicated doctors.

Comparing the clinic and Church to a ship, Abp. John said everyone must contribute to a common mission. “Not everyone can be the coach, not everyone can be the captain, but all are part of a team that makes its own contribution,” he said.

Previously, the UOJ reported that Patr. Bartholomew and Abp. John celebrated the Dormition on Imbros.