The Holy Unmercenaries Medical Society (HUMS) met at the Diakonia Retreat Center May 17-19, 2019 for its third annual retreat, “Healing the Healer,” led by Dn. Dr. Stephen Muse.
 
The weekend began with a presentation by Dn. Paul Tsahakis, which linked the healing ministry of Jesus Christ with the ministry of the Holy Unmercenaries Medical Society, including an explanation of the expanded understanding of “healthcare” as defined by the Holy Unmercenary Saints: medical healing, providing for the material needs of the poor, as well as proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Thereafter, Dn. Dr. Muse carefully and prayerfully explored the Orthodox concept of “healing” (body and soul)—as a holistic encounter with each patient as a “person” created in God’s image.
 
Contemporary and controversial topics such as medically assisted suicide were explored and evaluated. Ultimately, each retreat attendee was led to the understanding that contemporary methods of healing that include “control of the other,” must yield to the reality that true healing consists of a “self-offering” of the healer to the patient, in imitation of our Lord Jesus Christ.
 
The weekend included daily morning and evening worship services led by the DRC’s Chaplain,
Fr. Constantine Carras. These worship experiences served to help unite the attendees, who came from throughout the Holy Metropolis of Atlanta, and many of whom did not previously know one another.
 
Additionally, the following members were selected for the new HUMS Board: Dn. Dr. Paul Tsahakis (President), Dr. Dennis Kokenes (Vice President), Evelyn Klund (Treasurer) Teresa Jacob (Secretary), Dr. Emmanuel Zervos, Dr. Chris Christakos, Dr. George Adrinopoulos, Dr. Gina Volas-Redd and Dr. Steve Crider.
 
Other fellowship opportunities included individual heartfelt and prayerful “faith expressions” of some of the attendees. Fr. Dino surprised and delighted everyone with a Saturday evening bonfire by the retreat center’s lake, which was further illuminated with a full moon! All attendees were thoroughly satisfied with the retreat center’s accommodations and with the delicious and plentiful meals.