With the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill, on April 19, 2021, at the Hospital of St. Alexis, a 5-day course for clergy began on organizing spiritual assistance to the sick in medical institutions. Classes have been led by the chairman of the Synodal Charity Department, Bishop Panteleimon of Verey, representatives of the Hospital Ministry Commission under the Diocesan Council of Moscow and the Moscow Health Department, experts of the Synodal Charity Department, Diakonia.ru reports.
The course participants will be told about the pastoral ministry in the hospital. They will get acquainted with the peculiarities of caring for patients with COVID-19 and palliative patients, the psychological aspects of communicating with patients in the hospital. Participants will also learn how to use personal protective equipment when visiting patients with coronavirus infection.
“After the past year, the doors of many hospitals have opened for us. Doctors ask us to come to the sick, comfort them, support, organize assistance in their care, bring sisters of mercy and volunteers with us, ”says the head of the Synodal Charity Department, Vicar of His Holiness the Patriarch, Bishop Panteleimon of Verey. “We cannot but respond to this call and help those who are suffering, who are on the brink of death.”
End of last year a special group of hospital priests has been created in Moscow, who bypass hospital departments, visit the sick on call. The round-the-clock telephone of the Moscow Hospital Commission is +7 903 660-30-40 now accepts up to 20 calls daily. The number of requests is increasing.
Priests wishing to help in the spiritual care of the sick in medical institutions can sign up for courses at the link: https://bit.ly/kurs0421
The course program can be found on the Pastor portal for clergy.
From April 2, 2020 to April 16, 2021, priests from the special group made 1998 visits to people with coronavirus, suspected coronavirus and dying without symptoms of coronavirus. During this time, they visited 57 hospitals. Priests always visit coronavirus patients wearing protective equipment.
Photo: Pelagia Zamyatina. Priests from a special group at the temporary COVID hospital at VDNKh.
