Finding Joy in the midst of Sorrow
The Huffington at Saint Sophia
February 28th 2026 @ 11:30AM
As Orthodox Christians, how do we cope when we are struggling with grief? What do we say to someone who is grieving?
How do we find joy in the midst of suffering?
Join us for a one-day retreat with Dr. Sarah Byrne-Martelli, author of "Memory Eternal: Living with Grief as Orthodox Christians." This retreat will include engaging presentations from Dr. Sarah, group discussion, and fellowship. Dr. Sarah will guide us in reflecting on our own experiences of suffering and grief, with creative exercises and reflections that draw on the life-giving resources of our faith.
We will also learn practical ways to care for others who are struggling, whether our own families, friends, or in our parishes. When we love and care for each other, we encounter Christ; we find joy in the midst of our mourning.
Sarah Byrne-Martelli is a board-certified chaplain and bereavement counselor with over 20 years of experience in hospice and palliative care. She is the author of Memory Eternal: Living with Grief as Orthodox Christians (Ancient Faith, 2022). She serves on the faculty of the Harvard Medical School Center for Palliative Care and is currently a Research Fellow at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. She holds a Doctor of Ministry from St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary, where she is now an Assistant Professor of Spiritual Care, and a Master of Divinity from Harvard Divinity School. Sarah attends St. Mary Orthodox Church in Cambridge, MA, with her husband, Dr. Peter Martelli, and their son Rafael.
