May 11, 2022 - 17th Consultation European Network of Health Care Chaplaincy

News Release
May 11, 2022

17^th Consultation
European Network of Health Care
Chaplaincy

The 17^th Consultation of the European Network of Health Care Chaplaincy began its deliberations at the Orthodox Academy of Crete. The Consultation is being hosted by the Network of the Ecumenical Patriarchate for Pastoral Health Care. The Consultation will take place between the 11^th-15^th of May 2022. Participating in the Consultation are 95 representatives from different Churches in Europe, caregivers, and other organizations responsible for hospital chaplaincy in 26 European countries. The theme of the Consultation is “Heart to Heart: Being a Chaplain – Being with Others”. The participants will concern themselves with the identity of the hospital chaplain and those that minister to the sick.

His Eminence Metropolitan Amphilohios of Kisamou and Selini and the Director of the Orthodox Academy, Konstantine Zorbas, welcomed the participants, expressing their joy in having the Consultation take place at the Academy.  

The European Network (ENHCC) is the only European organization that brings together the official representatives from all the Christian churches and chaplaincy organizations in Europe that provide pastoral care in various health care facilities. The Network aims at mutual sharing and understanding on a religious, cultural and organizational level. Its purpose is to enable its participants, who serve in the area of the multi-disciplinary field of healthcare

to share and learn from one another so as to promote a high quality standard of Health Care Chaplaincy in Europe.

The Ecumenical Patriarchate has taken a leading role in the European Network. In 2000 it organized the Consultation where the Network was founded. This took event took place at the Orthodox Academy of Crete. Thus, at this, the 17^th Consultation, the participants will celebrate the Network’s 20^th anniversary of its establishment. (Note: Due to the Pandemic, the 17^th Consultation was cancelled in 2020.)

The Ecumenical Patriarchate is represented by the Protopresbyter of the the Ecumenical Throne, Rev. Stavros Kofinas, Coordinator of the Patriarchal Network. Fr. Stavros was the first Coordinator of the ENHCC, unanimously elected three times, serving as its Coordinator for ten years (2000-2010).

Network of the Ecumenical Patriarchate for Pastoral Health Care

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