Patriarch Daniel of Bulgaria: Euthanasia is unacceptable for an Orthodox doctor

The Primate of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Daniel, expressed strong condemnation of the practice of euthanasia, calling participation in it unacceptable for an Orthodox Christian and a doctor. His Holiness emphasized that the medical vocation is inextricably linked to faith and the preservation of life, not its artificial termination.

According to Orthodoxia News Agency, on May 12, on the occasion of International Nurses’ Day, Patriarch Daniel celebrated a prayer service for the health of health care workers at the Patriarchal Cathedral of St. Alexander Nevsky. In his address to the media before the service, Makaryότατος noted that nurses and doctors are «on the front lines of human suffering and the human struggle for health and life.»

During his sermon after the service, Patriarch Daniel emphasized that the basis for successful treatment is humanity, faith and selfless care for those suffering. Touching on the topic of euthanasia, he emphasized: «Our Orthodox faith teaches us that even the most severe suffering in human life has its own meaning.» According to him, the example of true love and care for man is the Lord Jesus Christ, and for an Orthodox doctor to facilitate the death of a patient remains an unacceptable act.

It is worth noting that in 2024 the Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church decided to establish an annual prayer for the «Orthodox medical worker». This initiative was proposed by the head of the Military Medical Academy of Bulgaria, Major General Prof. Ventsislav Mutafchisky. Now this service is included in the church calendar and is celebrated in all dioceses of the Bulgarian Church.