Symeon of Phthiotis: After a serious health adventure, His Eminence the Metropolitan of Phthiotis, Symeon, speaks to "Kyriaki A" about the "great university of sickness, which reminds us of some self-evident truths of our human existence" and, above all, our limits.
In his first interview, following the successful conclusion of a "tough" health trial, His Eminence the Metropolitan of Phthiotis, Symeon, grants an interview to "Kyriaki Apogevmatini". This hierarch of the Church, of profound spirituality, conveys a message of joy and hope and reminds us of the always limited and perishable boundaries of our human existence.
— Your Eminence, I happened to hear one of your Sunday sermons before you underwent the difficult surgical procedure you were subjected to, and you mentioned then that "illness is the greatest university of life, because through illness we learn what a human being is." Can you explain your thought to us?
— The great university of illness reminds us of some self-evident truths of our human existence. We were not as strong, powerful, and robust as we often believe, but we are weak, vulnerable, and susceptible humans, with immense existential questions before death, which illness brings before us without distinction. In the face of illness, as in death, there are neither ranks nor positions, nor qualities, nor ages, but only humans. Simultaneously, in this university, we see people beside us serving us with love, praying for us, struggling with us, sympathizing with us, and flooding us with wonderful emotions. We also see people, scientists, of all specialties of the healthcare community, acting not mechanically and narrowly professionally, but with sensitivity, with empathy, with delicacy, and with respect for the patient. The painful trial of illness strengthens humanity and confirms the words of the Apostle Paul: "When I am weak, then I am strong."
— Did you feel afraid at any moment before your surgery? The procedure you underwent carries a small percentage of mortality within the operating room. Was your mind tested before your final decision?
— This may seem paradoxical to you, but I awaited the surgery as a child awaits waking up to go on a beautiful school trip. And this expectation was confirmed, because both my 10-day stay in the hospital and the long period of my convalescence in the monastery of our Panagia in Damasta were among the most beautiful periods of my life so far. I received so much medical and nursing care on one hand, and primarily so much multi-human, spontaneous, warm, and authentic love, that on a purely human level, it would have been a blissful end if the surgery had taken another turn. In our Church, however, we pray that "the ends of our lives may be Christian, painless, effortless, and peaceful." My prayer and my concern were at this level, the spiritual and eschatological. And healing is given for repentance...
— Allow me to also pose a provocative question, just to receive a powerful answer from you: Who saves, ultimately? God or the neurosurgeon?
— The subject of illness and healing is very special, and the formulation "to save" is very "loaded," as salvation according to our Orthodox faith refers to a holistic (sōs = whole) restoration, which is not limited to the narrow and suffocating data of specific expressions of our lives, but touches upon the ultimate things. After all, our healing from a health problem does not mean that we will not fall ill again, or much more, that we will not pass away. And of course, we will not encounter any serious scientist, neurosurgeon or otherwise, who will consider himself the "savior" of people.
The humanity has suffered as many times as "saviors" have appeared, regardless of their field of origin. And the Church suffers from those who appear as "saviors," but people also suffer and condemn themselves when they seek various "saviors" for their problems of all kinds. My neurosurgeon is an excellent and conscientious scientist, who exerted all his strength to perform his duty. And I am grateful to him for this and I admire him. And primarily because he does the same for all his patients without exception, for all our fellow humans without distinction. I also bow reverently to countless other doctors and scientists who serve humanity exemplarily. In connection with the question, however, I would like to share the recent experience I had in the hospital, which I have also experienced in other hospitals previously. I saw doctors, university professors, nurses, and other healthcare personnel turning to prayer, humbly seeking the help of God, and with deep faith in our Christ, placing themselves, their science, and their entire being at the service of people. That says it all...
— Can you describe the feelings that overwhelmed you during your first Sunday sermon, immediately after your discharge from the hospital?
— Fifty days after the surgery, I found myself again in the mystery of mysteries, in the Holy Eucharist, together with my family in Christ, in our metropolitan cathedral in Lamia. My feelings were of emotion and gratitude, and above all, an immense thank you. To the Holy Trinity God, to our Panagia, to our Saints, to the doctors and other healthcare workers, to my thousands of brothers, from near and far, who stood with love and affection beside my sickbed. An immense thank you for the beautiful gift of love, which gives illness another perspective: "For my strength is made perfect in weakness."
*Published in "Kyriaki Apogevmatini"