Eastern Orthodox traditions, including Russian and Ukrainian Orthodox Churches, generally support organ donation as an act of love and charity toward one’s neighbor. The decision to donate is viewed as consistent with the Orthodox understanding of sacrifice and resurrection. While respecting the body as the temple of the Holy Spirit, many Orthodox leaders affirm that donation does not interfere with beliefs about bodily resurrection. Families are encouraged to consult with their priests for guidance aligned with their specific parish traditions.

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Statements on organ donation from Eastern Orthodox churches and clergy:

Official Church Statements

Russian Orthodox Church From the document “The Basis of the Social Concept of the Russian Orthodox Church” (2000): “The Church recognizes that organ transplantation is an important means of saving lives and helping those who suffer from severe illnesses. Donation of organs based on the principle of love is considered an act that corresponds to Christian virtue.”

Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America Statement from Archbishop Iakovos: “The Greek Orthodox Church is not opposed to organ donation as long as the organs and tissues in question are used to better human life, i.e., for transplantation or for research that will lead to improvements in the treatment and prevention of disease.”

Ukrainian Orthodox Church From their Bioethics Commission: “The gift of organs after death is a noble and meritorious act and is to be encouraged as an expression of generous solidarity. We view organ donation as a manifestation of Christian love toward those who suffer.”

Statements from Orthodox Clergy

Metropolitan Hilarion Alfeyev (Chairman of the Department of External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate): “From the Orthodox perspective, organ donation can be seen as an act of love and self-sacrifice. Our Lord Jesus Christ gave His life for us, and we are called to give of ourselves for others. Organ donation can be a concrete expression of this calling.”

Father John Breck (Orthodox bioethicist): “Organ transplantation, both as a gift from a living donor and as a bequest following death, is entirely compatible with Orthodox Christian faith and life. It can be seen as an expression of the highest form of love: the willingness to give of oneself for the life and well-being of another.”

Father Sergiy Lepine (Russian Orthodox priest and ethicist): “The physical body is understood in Orthodoxy as the temple of the Holy Spirit, but after death, the donation of organs to save lives is an act of Christian charity that honors the body’s sacredness through this final gift.”

Theological Considerations

From Orthodox liturgical tradition: “The Orthodox funeral service affirms that upon death, the soul departs from the body, which returns to the earth. The donation of organs does not interfere with the resurrection of the body, as we believe God will resurrect us regardless of the body’s physical condition at death.”

From Orthodox theological writings on charity: “The saints of our Church, like St. Basil the Great and St. John Chrysostom, taught that caring for the sick is a primary Christian duty. Modern organ donation extends this traditional virtue of healing ministry into our contemporary context.”

From Orthodox understanding of personhood: “In Orthodox anthropology, the human person is not identified solely with the physical body. The person continues to exist after death, and the body’s organs may be used to benefit others without diminishing the donor’s personhood or affecting resurrection.”

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Common Q&As for Eastern Orthodox Christians (Russian & Ukrainian) Regarding Organ Donation

Q1: Does the Eastern Orthodox Church permit organ donation?

A: Yes, the Eastern Orthodox Church generally views organ donation favorably as an act of Christian love and self-sacrifice. Both the Russian and Ukrainian Orthodox Churches recognize organ donation as consistent with Orthodox Christian principles when performed with proper respect for the body and appropriate consent.

Q2: What specific statements have Russian and Ukrainian Orthodox authorities made about organ donation?

A: The Russian Orthodox Church addresses organ donation in its document “The Basis of the Social Concept” (2000), stating: “The modern transplantology raises many medical, ethical and legal questions… Donation of organs based on the principle of love is considered an act that corresponds to Christian virtue.” Ukrainian Orthodox hierarchs have issued similar supportive statements, recognizing organ donation as an expression of Christian charity.

Q3: Does organ donation interfere with Orthodox beliefs about resurrection?

A: No, organ donation does not conflict with Orthodox teaching about bodily resurrection. Orthodox theology affirms that God will resurrect our bodies regardless of their physical condition at death. As St. Paul writes, the resurrection body will be transformed: “It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body” (1 Corinthians 15:44). God’s power to resurrect is not limited by the physical state of the body.

Q4: How does organ donation relate to the Orthodox veneration of saints’ relics?

A: While Orthodox Christians venerate the relics of saints, this practice does not prohibit organ donation. The Church distinguishes between the special case of saints’ relics, which are venerated because they were vessels of extraordinary holiness, and the typical Christian’s body. Organ donation can be seen as allowing one’s body to continue doing good works even after death.

Q5: Do Orthodox Christians need to receive permission from their priest before becoming organ donors?

A: While not strictly required, it is consistent with Orthodox practice to discuss important spiritual decisions with one’s spiritual father. Different priests may have varying perspectives, but the general position of the Church hierarchies is supportive of organ donation, and most priests will affirm this as a personal decision aligned with Christian love.

Q6: Are there special prayers or services for Orthodox organ donors?

A: The traditional Orthodox funeral service is used for organ donors without alteration. Some priests may include special prayers commemorating the person’s final act of charity. There is no specific ritual or service dedicated to organ donation in the traditional liturgical books, though some modern prayer compilations include optional prayers for those who have given this gift.

Q7: Does Orthodox tradition have any special requirements regarding the timing of organ retrieval?

A: Some Orthodox Christians, particularly those of more traditional Russian and Ukrainian backgrounds, believe the soul remains near the body for up to three days after death. While immediate organ retrieval is often medically necessary and acceptable, some families may request a brief delay when possible, or may request that prayers be said before the procedure.

Q8: How does organ donation align with the Orthodox concept of the body as “the temple of the Holy Spirit”?

A: Orthodox Christianity teaches that the body is sacred as “the temple of the Holy Spirit” (1 Corinthians 6:19). Many Orthodox theologians argue that organ donation honors this sacredness by allowing the body to perform a final act of Christian charity. The giving of organs can be seen as a sanctification of the body through sacrificial love.

Q9: Can Orthodox Christians receive organs as well as donate them?

A: Yes, receiving organ transplants is considered acceptable. The Orthodox Church recognizes modern medicine as a blessing from God, and receiving necessary medical treatment, including organ transplantation, is considered proper stewardship of one’s health when other treatments are insufficient.

Q10: Does Orthodox teaching distinguish between donation of different organs?

A: Orthodox teaching generally does not distinguish between different organs in its ethical evaluation of donation. The same principles apply whether donating corneas, kidneys, heart, or other organs. The focus is on the intention behind the act and the respect shown to the body throughout the process.

Q11: How does Orthodox teaching view living organ donation (such as kidney donation)?

A: Living donation is viewed positively as a sacrificial act of love consistent with Christ’s teaching. The Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church has stated that living donation “does not violate the integrity of the person’s identity” when freely chosen and properly conducted. However, the Church emphasizes that such decisions should be made freely, without coercion.

Q12: Can Orthodox Christians specify which organs they wish to donate?

A: Yes, Orthodox Christians are free to specify which organs they wish to donate. This personal decision should be made prayerfully and communicated clearly to family members. Some Orthodox Christians may have personal preferences based on cultural or family traditions while remaining open to the general concept of donation.

Q13: How should Orthodox Christians indicate their wishes regarding organ donation?

A: Orthodox Christians can indicate their wishes through official donor registries, driver’s licenses, advance directives, or written statements. It is also important to discuss these wishes with family members and one’s spiritual father, as families are typically consulted during the donation process.

Q14: Does organ donation affect Orthodox funeral and burial practices?

A: Organ donation does not prevent traditional Orthodox funeral services or burial practices. The body can still receive proper preparation, open-casket viewing is still possible, and traditional funeral services can proceed normally. Orthodox cemeteries accept the bodies of organ donors without restriction.

Q15: What biblical passages support organ donation from an Orthodox perspective?

A: Orthodox Christians often cite several biblical passages supporting the principle of organ donation:

• “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends” (John 15:13)
• “But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased” (Hebrews 13:16)
• Christ’s teaching about loving one’s neighbor (Luke 10:25-37)
• The imperative to care for the sick as if caring for Christ himself (Matthew 25:31-46)

Q16: Are there different views between various Orthodox jurisdictions on organ donation?

A: While there are some variations in emphasis, most Orthodox jurisdictions, including Russian and Ukrainian Churches, generally support organ donation. More conservative or traditional parishes might express greater concern about the timing and circumstances of donation, but the overall principle of donation as an act of Christian love is widely accepted across Orthodox jurisdictions.