St Ekaterina Hospital Opens State-of-the-Art Surgical Unit with Blessing-of-Waters Ritual

Kaloyan Kirilov

Patriarch Daniil, at St Ekaterina University Hospital, Sofia, November 25, 2024 (BTA Photo/Milena Stoykova)

Sofia,

25.11.2024 16:28

(BTA)

Four new operating rooms were inaugurated at St Ekaterina University Hospital on Monday, completing the hospital's advanced surgical unit, with a blessing-of-waters ritual for health and prosperity conducted by Bulgarian Patriarch Daniil.

"There are two operating rooms for cardiac surgery and two for vascular surgery," Hospital Director Dimitar Petkov told journalists. "One of these rooms is a hybrid, featuring a state-of-the-art angiograph and artificial intelligence, allowing for the execution of all procedures," Petkov added. He said that over 1,000 patients are treated in cardiac surgery and between 1,500 and 1,800 in vascular surgery every year, noting that the new operating rooms will greatly improve the hospital's capacity to serve patients.

The Health Ministry assisted with the approval of the hospital's overall vision and concept and provided funding, caretaker minister Galya Kondeva said. She noted that an investment exceeding BGN 20 million has been approved for this project.

"From now on, doctors can offer more complete care to all patients," Patriarch Daniil said. "May God support you in this service to which you have committed yourselves," he added.

/RY/