Dear Reader,

the Hungarian Hospice Palliative Association held its XI Congress on 27-29. March 2014 in Zalaegerszeg, Hungary. The motto of the Congress was We are not alone, which symbolized the attention that patients and family members get and the help hospice workers give and can give on professional and social level as well. Besides the main topics, such as the ease of physical and psychological pain, palliative opportunities within the social care system, hospice management, palliative care of children and teenagers, social awareness and voluntary work, an exciting workshop took place as well, namely The new ways and opportunities of psychosocial care in Hungary. In course of the workshop, invited experts presented the characteristics of three jobs: psychotherapy, philosophy praxis, and pastoral vocation. Working together was an inspiring experience with high attendance, especially since there were real interdisciplinary group conversations involving doctors, psychologists, nurses, and other professionals.

The current issue of Charon includes a selection of the written forms of the lectures in the Congress. Highlighting the study of László Nemes That to study philosophy is to learn to die – Philosophical praxis at the end of life, which is of scientific value and evaluates the experiences of the aforementioned workshop as well. Another important writing is the study of Katalin Hegedűs and Katalin Munk Hospice care in Hungary, which provides a general overview of the present situation of hospice care in Hungary. Other, shorter writings are published in the Repository column. These revised lectures are particular, personal reflections, short essays or information about something new. It is important to mention that besides the philosopher there are also doctors experienced in palliative care and a music therapist among our authors, thus, this issue reflects true interdisciplinarity – in accordance with the idea of hospice.

We hope that our articles help everyone who was not there to understand the essence of the Congress. We wish you a good reading and immersion.