The answer
Stigmata is a phenomenon foreign to the Orthodox experience and, as such, the Church has no official position towards it. Such things may be signs from God, or they could be deceptions or distractions from the devil. The best thing is to remain focused on Christ and not give much heed to these phenomena. In the end what matters above everything is God and God alone. Therefore we should not allow any distracters to shift our focus.I read that scientists are inclined to believe that the stigmata are connected with nervous or cataleptic hysteria.
Answered by His Eminence Metropolitan Youssef (opens in a new tab)