Holistic Healing in Byzantium Epistemologies and Methodologies

The tradition of healing in Orthodox Christianity emphasizes the human being as a psychosomatic unity. In Western society, however, the practice of healing is often separated into disciplines that independently address the body, the mind, and the soul. Orthodox Christian physicians, psychologists, and religious leaders trained in Western institutions may therefore find a conflict between modern healing methods and their religious beliefs. Should we attend to part of the person over the whole person? Does it matter if we approach the healing task in parts rather than as a whole? Recently, those working in the modern healing arts have begun to incorporate holistic, integrative approaches in their disciplines of medicine, psychology, and religion. This investigation: • explains the holistic epistemology of Orthodox Christian theology toward healing • distinguishes various interdisciplinary methodologies that illustrate how psychosomatic healing was practiced in the Byzantine period • identifies healing methods of Orthodox Christian professionals in medicine, psychology, and religion who use integrative, holistic approaches for healing