NEWS

Military Medical Academy and BOC in common prayer for doctors and patients

14/05/2024

On the initiative of the head of the Military Medical Academy (MMA), Major General Prof. Dr. Vencislav Mutafchiyski, MD, FACS, for the first time in our country, a prayer service was held for the Orthodox health worker in the temple-monument "St. Alexander Nevsky". The prayer, led by the vice-president of the Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church Grigoriy Metropolitan Vrachanski, will be included in the church calendar and will be held annually on May 12 in all dioceses, coinciding with the International Day of Sisterhood.

The inclusion of this date in the church calendar is an unprecedented event, completing the symphony between faith and medicine. Major General Prof. Dr. Mutafchiiski emphasized the importance of faith in healing with mercy and compassion. The idea of a prayer service arose during the COVID-pandemic and the campaigns to promote free blood donation, supported by the Sofia Metropolis. He expressed gratitude to the clergy for the care shown to the medics and prayerful support to overcome the nursing staffing crisis.

The head of the VMA emphasizes the key role of nurses, who are closest to patients, feel their pain and suffering, and are a mediator between the doctor and the patient. The prayer on this day strengthens their faith and makes them more visible in society.

Among those present at the prayer were representatives of the management of the VMA, nurses from the team of the medical facility, Mrs. Desislava Radeva - wife of the President of the Republic of Bulgaria, Mrs. Milka Vasileva - president of the Bulgarian Association of Health Care Professionals, and prof. Alexandrina Vodenicharova, Ph.D. - Dean of the Faculty of Public Health at the Sofia University.

The participation of Prof. Vodenicharova emphasizes the significance of the event and the commitment of the Faculty of Public Health to the spiritual dimension of health care and support for health professionals. Her presence demonstrates the academic community's commitment to the initiative and recognition of the role of faith in medical practice.