Spiritual counselling and women's well-being in orthodox christianity: embryo adoption as surrogate motherhood

This article examines the role of spiritual counselling in addressing infertility-related suffering among Orthodox Christian women, with particular attention to surrogacy and embryo adoption. Infertility may generate not only psychological distress but also profound moral and religious conflict when assisted reproductive technologies are perceived as incompatible with faith commitments. Focusing on Orthodox Christianity, the article argues that counselling must integrate theological, ethical, and clinical dimensions rather than reducing religious concerns to psychological support alone. Using a case-based approach, it shows how pastoral counselling can help infertile couples navigate doctrinal restrictions, especially where local Orthodox positions on assisted reproduction are diverse or unclear. Using a specific clinical case, the authors demonstrate how spiritual guidance enabled a couple to consider embryo adoption, a solution that is technically equivalent to surrogacy, as permissible within their religious framework. The article concludes that spiritually informed counselling can reduce distress, support informed decision-making, and improve the well-being of infertile women while remaining faithful to Orthodox moral teaching.