The relationship between medicine and religion is an issue that has been of great concern to mankind. Research on the mental health of patients has shown that faith in a higher power can play an important role in the healing process. At the same time, doctors and scientists are working hard to develop the best possible treatments in order to improve people's quality of life. Above all, however, Christian Orthodox theology advocates the sharing of divine grace and the cooperation of the Holy Spirit, who sanctifies human actions by healing the soul and body.
In this article we will examine how the great saints of our Church approach the relationship between medicine and faith.
Saint Paisios the Athonite
"The most humble people are doctors. They work in the national health system, so they have no ego, only care for others. Also, their insurance is T.S.A.I., so they don't require too many things to live; they just need tea.” *
*There is a play on words here; the Greek abbreviation for Health Pension and Self-Insurance Fund (Τ.Σ.Α.Υ.) is pronounced the same way as the Greek word "ΤΣΑΪ", which means "TEA".
"The doctor who is a good Christian helps all patients with his science as well as with his kindness and his faith, encouraging them to face their illness with trust in God. In a serious case, he can support his patient by explaining that he should have hope, because God, who heals and works miracles, is with him..."
Saint Porphyrios the Kausokalivite
"As you examine each child, pray silently and say with love, 'Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on your servant’. You should open your heart thus and pray. Each of these children is a young soul that God has placed in your hands. As you lay your hand on their little head and pray fervently, the grace of God will be infused into the soul of the child. It happens as a miracle. No one else will know. You will give them the medicine that your science says, but in the end, Jesus Christ will give the healing that you and the parents are begging for."
Saint John Chrysostom
"We should not avoid medicine, nor is it wise to put all our hopes in it. Just as we practice agriculture while praying to God for fruit, and just as we give the helm to the captain while praying to God to save us at sea, so we should call a doctor at our home while keeping our hope in God."
Saint Basil the Great
"The science of medicine, which is concerned with the elimination of what is superfluous and the addition of what is lacking, on the model of psychic healing, has been given by God."
Saint Theophan the Recluse
"God created medicinal herbs and God enlightened man to discover the healing properties of these herbs, as sincere and humble doctors admit."
Elder Ephraim of the Skete of Saint Andrew
"Jesus Christ is the One and Great Physician of souls and bodies. There are no earthly doctors. Jesus Christ heals when the earthly doctor treats. The earthly doctor heals through the blessing of Christ our Lord."
Fr. Epiphanios Theodoropoulos
"The use of medical science does not negate the invocation of Divine Grace. Thus, without denying medical help, Christians should pray that God will enlighten physicians to make the right diagnosis, perform the necessary tests, and choose the appropriate treatment."
Archimandrite Irenaeos Laftsis
"...Jesus Christ is the first physician. He knows the functioning of the human body better than any of us. Earthly doctors are the explorers of the body. Jesus Christ is its creator."
For more on the Christian approach to medical science, see "Human Health: A Link Between Faith and Science"
