Orthodox Christians from all canonical jurisdictions present in Germany now have access to a legal instrument that allows them to decide in advance what should happen to them in the event of cognitive decline or serious accident.
Metropolitan Serafim of Germany, Central, and Northern Europe recommends that parish priests discuss this option with their communities.
The document, titled the Orthodox Advance Directive (Orthodoxe Patientenverfügung), carries legal weight and was developed by the Orthodox Medical Working Group under the auspices of the Deutschsprachige Orthodoxie in Mitteleuropa (German-speaking Orthodoxy in Central Europe).
It allows believers to express their wishes in accordance with their faith, such as refusing euthanasia or cremation and ensures the right to receive spiritual care. Thus, a priest can be officially involved in the patient’s care, facilitating the administration of the Holy Sacraments in hospitals and care centers.
The document is already used in several parishes across Germany and has proven effective in real-life situations. The diocese urges every cleric to familiarize themselves with its content to guide parishioners in signing and implementing it correctly.
The Orthodox Advance Directive includes:
- Legal Power of Attorney (Vorsorgevollmacht);
- Custody Provisions (Betreuungsverfügung);
- Treatment Preferences (Behandlungswünsche);
- Release from Medical Confidentiality (Schweigepflichtsentbindung).
The legally valid document is written in German and can be downloaded here. For full informational purposes, the Metropolis of Germany also provides a Romanian-language version, though it holds no legal validity in Germany—it is available for reference here.
Contact Information:
- Dr. Claudia Podașcă: [email protected]
- Hieromonk Athanasie Ulea: [email protected]
Photo: Freepik
