The Ukrainian Orthodox Church discusses the possibility of canonization of the surgeon Nikolai Pirogov

The possibility of the outstanding Russian surgeon Nikolai Pirogov being canonized as one of the saints is currently being discussed in the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate. The ruling bishop of the Zaporizhzhya and Melitopol diocese Metropolitan Luka (Kovalenko) told the editor of the REGNUM news about this.

According to Vladyka, the time itself and the ongoing coronovirus pandemic in particular, had made us look at the medical and scientific ministry of Nikolai Pirogov as a spiritual feat. In difficult times, people tend to prayerfully resort to the intercession of heavenly protectors. Today, believers especially often turn to those who were engaged in healing during their lifetime - holy healers Panteleimon the Healer, Kharlampy, Luke (Voino-Yasenetsky). At the same time, the church is becoming aware of more and more facts that make it possible to look at Nikolai Pirogov as an ascetic who devoted himself to serving his neighbor and, after departing to the Lord God, did not leave stop helping the living. “We appeal to people who can share their information about how he [Pirogov] came to help after his departure to the Kingdom of Heaven. Such is the process of canonization”, says Metropolitan Luke.

It is important to recall that Nikolai Pirogov is the founder of the Russian school of anesthesia, the founder of Russian military field surgery and the creator of the first atlas of topographic anatomy. Nikolai Ivanovich made a great contribution to the development of Russian pedagogy, considering the goal of upbringing the formation of a highly moral personality, capable of devoting himself to serving society.