Network Activities

 Since 2008, the Patriarchal Network has organized five international conferences on behalf of the Ecumenical Patriarchate (2008, 2011, 2014, 2017, 2022) on the island of Rhodes. The conferences were attended by clergy, medical and health care professionals and other specialists who care for those that suffer in multiple ways. The Conferences dealt with vital issues concerning people’s physical, psychological, and spiritual health, the way people are wounded by various life-situations, and how people can acquire hope from relationships formed within the community of God’s grace – the Church.

During the critical times of the Pandemic, the Ecumenical Patriarchate held a consultation entitled “The Pastoring Church in times of Pandemic” which was organized by the Patriarchal Network.   The Consultation took place between the 16^th of December 2020 and the 10^th of March 2021. During this time, eight sessions were held where speakers and participants shared their experiences and the knowledge gained during these “times of pandemic”. Besides the Consultation, at the onset of the Covid Pandemic, the Patriarchal Network issued a prayer regarding the pandemic which has been translated into 16 languages and is now read in many churches throughout the world.

The Conferences and the Consultation afforded us all with rich and useful material that can serve as a resource for many.  All of the sessions are available on the Patriarchal Network’s YouTube Channel in Greek and English.  

The Patriarchal Network published the book in Greek «Θεραπείαν Προσάγοντες - Εἰσαγωγή στήν ποιμαντική διακονία στόν χῶρο τῆς ὑγείας».

In its effort to support those that minister in the area of health, Fellowships for Medical and Healthcare Workers have been formed in many jurisdictions of the Mother Church. In addition to this, at the Network’s proposal, the Ecumenical Patriarchate initiated the celebration of the Feast of the Holy Doctors, which has been designated to be celebrated every year on the Sunday between the 18^th and 23^rd of October (the Sunday following that of the Holy Fathers). The Patriarchal Network published the Service of the Feast, eloquently and beautifully written by His Eminence, Kyrillos Metropolitan of Rhodes, which also includes a Modern Greek and English translation.

The Ecumenical Patriarchate is a founding member of the European Network for Health Care Chaplaincy. It organized the 6^th Consultation for Hospital Chaplaincy at the Orthodox Academy of Crete in 2000, where the European Network was founded.  Fr. Kofinas was designated as the head of the Network and was then elected as its Coordinator in 2002. He was unanimously re-elected to serve two consecutive terms (2004-2008; 2008-2010).  In 2022, the Patriarchal Network hosted this European organization’s 17^th Consultation at the Academy in Crete, where its 20^th Anniversary was celebrated.

 The Patriarchal Network is in dialogue with the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development of the Pontificate at the Vatican. It takes part in a forum of the World Council of Churches that consists of approximately 100 healthcare providers from all over the world and has participated in special meetings of the Council of European Churches. It has also taken part in other dialogues with other religions.

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