There is a growing interest in an interdisciplinary approach to the academic study of palliative care, conditioned by raising awareness of the very nature of the field, involving the complex treatment of patients with terminal illnesses that require special care and attention (cf. Mantini et al. 2022, Watson et al. 2019, Ospina et al. 2022). One of the most comprehensive definitions of palliative care provided by the World Health Organization describes it as “an approach that improves the quality of life of patients […] and their families who are facing problems associated with a life-threatening illness. It prevents and relieves suffering through the early identification, correct assessment, and treatment of pain and other problems, whether physical, psychosocial, or spiritual.” 
This definition itself reflects the complex idea of palliative care, covering the problems and approaches of medical and natural sciences (physical and psycho-emotional dimensions of the illness), as well as humanities (ethical, spiritual, and mental aspects) and social sciences (problems related to social relations (family members) and everyday social life). 
Since the concept and the practice of palliative care are newly introduced in the Georgian context, there is still a lack of studies investigating the social and culture-related aspects and challenges of establishing care practices in Georgia. This issue is becoming increasingly important against the background of the institutional development of palliative care services and the growing number of organizations providing care services in Georgia, linked with the range of social changes (cf. Gegeshidze et al. 2019, Kiknadze & Dzotsenidze 2018). 
The proposed study aims to investigate the spiritual dimension in palliative care practices in Georgia, applying an interdisciplinary approach. In particular, it will examine the role of Orthodox theological views in dealing with the spiritual, physical, psychosocial, and mental crises in palliative care patients in Georgia that may affect their quality of life. The study will combine the perspectives of sociology (phenomenology) of religion, philosophy of religion, as well as empirical theology. It will analyze Christian Orthodox views on life and death, both in Orthodox Church teaching and in the perception of patients and caregivers to determine the extent to which religious perceptions of both patients and caregivers can influence the process and practices of palliative care, focusing on the concept of quality of life as the central idea of palliative care. Further, the study will contribute to public awareness of the challenges of palliative care in Georgia.