The third session in the Light of the World Webinar Series was co-hosted by Dr Daniel Hinshaw, SVS Press author and Professor Emeritus of Surgery at the University of Michigan School of Medicine, and Dr Sarah Byrne-Martelli (D.Min. ‘19), author, grief coach, and Senior Chaplain for the Division of Palliative Care and Geriatric Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital. This webinar was held on Thursday, December 14, 2023, from 7:00-8:30 p.m. EST, via Zoom livestream.
Dr Hinshaw’s presentation, titled “The Tension Between Anticipatory Grief and Joy for Orthodox Christians,” delved into the concept of kenosis, or self-emptying, as it relates to the common human experience of suffering as a result of loss, both of our loved ones and our own vitality and independence as we age and draw near to death. Dr Hinshaw gave scriptural and patristic examples to define kenosis as not merely a result of current or anticipated grief but ultimately as an opportunity, a joyful reminder of our journey towards the Kingdom. As Christians, our kenotic experiences enable us to turn away from distractions that obscure our soul’s search for God and Paradise.
Presentation slides, Dr Hinshaw
Following Dr Hinshaw’s presentation, Dr Byrne-Martelli affirmed the salvific potential of grieving as “one of the ways that we become fully human; a gift from God that we must actively receive…As we pursue our full humanity in Christ, with vulnerability and humility, we grow closer to God, the true Source of life.” Dr Byrne-Martelli went on to address some of the most troubling questions we deal with in our grief, such as how do we view death? Why would a terrible illness happen to someone who lived a good life? Does bad things happening to good people mean God doesn’t really love us? She also gave beautiful examples of grieving within the communal worship of the Church and provided a wealth of practical advice and useful phrases to use when dealing with grief of one’s own or that of a loved one.
Presentation slides, Dr Byrne-Martelli
Seminary President, the Very Rev. Dr Chad Hatfield, moderated the Q&A session following the speakers’ presentations, which included poignant questions from listeners about grief and loss within their own families. He thanked the speakers for addressing such a “timely topic”, saying, “This is an incredibly busy time of year for most of us, but it’s certainly not ‘jolly’ for those who have recently lost loved ones, or are facing their first Christmas without someone, so you have really developed a ministry that is significant–on behalf of the St Vladimir’s Seminary community, I thank you both.”
Chief Advancement Officer and webinar orchestrator, Sarah Werner, also thanked the speakers for their thoughtful and insightful talks and encouraged listeners to support the students at St Vladimir’s Seminary by making a donation to the scholarship fund at svots.edu/give.
To watch the recording of the third session of the Light of the World Webinar Series, “Darkness into Light: Working through Grief During the Holiday Season”, click the link below.
Watch Webinar Recording
About the Light of the World Webinar Series
This monthly webinar series features speakers from among St Vladimir’s Seminary faculty, alumni, and friends, speaking on a variety of topics while answering a core question:
How are we Christians to be the light of the world?
Drawing inspiration from feedback received through a recent survey, these webinars aim to address a diverse range of themes that address real and pressing issues facing Orthodox faithful in modern society.
These online webinars are open to the public and free of cost. They are recorded and uploaded to the St Vladimir’s Seminary YouTube channel after the live Zoom event for easy access.
