Institute of Theology

Deacon Porphyrios (Fadi) Georgi

Saint John of Damascus Institute of Theology

University of Balamand

P. O. Box 100 – 1300 100, Tripoli, LEBANON

Telephone: Office: 00961 6 930306 /7, Ext. 4801

Mobile: 00961 70 995916   Fax: 00961 6 930304

E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Current Academic Rank:

Associate Professor of Dogmatic Theology     

Languages:

Arabic, French, English, Greek (Modern), Greek (Koine), Hebrew (Biblical)

Education:

2007

PhD in Dogmatic and Systematic Theology

Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, GREECE

Thesis: The Eschatological Dimension of the Teaching of Saint Gregory Palamas: A Systematic Approach

2002

Bachelor of Theology

University of Balamand, LEBANON

1999

Masters of Arts in Arabic Language and Literature

American University of Beirut, LEBANON

Thesis: The Nocturnal Journey “Al Israa’ wal Miirāj” in the Sīrah Literature: A Study of the Transmission and Poetics of the Text

1996

Teaching Diploma

American University of Beirut, LEBANON

1994

Bachelor of Arts in Arabic Language and Literature

American University of Beirut, LEBANON

Academic Experience:

October 2013 – Present

Dean of the Saint John of Damascus Institute of Theology

University of Balamand, LEBANON

October 2013 – Present

Associate Professor of Dogmatic Theology

University of Balamand, LEBANON

March 2012, April 2013

Visiting Professor of Dogmatic Theology

Faculty of Theology

June 2012

Visiting Fellow of Dogmatic Theology

Orthodox Theological Faculty Andrei Saguna

Lucian Blaga State University of Sibiu, ROMANIA

October 2011

Visiting Professor of Dogmatic Theology

Dumitru Staniloae Faculty of Orthodox Theology

Alexandru I. Cuza State University of Iasi, ROMANIA

October 2006 – September 2013

Assistant Professor of Dogmatic Theology

University of Balamand, LEBANON

Professional Experience:

1996 - 1998

Full Time Teacher of Arabic (Middle and High School)

Lebanese Program and Arabic as a Second Language Program

American Community School – Beirut, LEBANON

Assistantship:

1994 – 1999

Graduate Assistant

Department of Arabic and Near Eastern Languages

American University of Beirut, LEBANON

Scientific Authority:

Sept. 2013 – Present

Dean of the Saint John of Damascus Institute of Theology

Saint John of Damascus Institute of Theology

University of Balamand, LEBANON

Oct. 2013 – Present

Academic Coordinator of the PhD Program Committee

Saint John of Damascus Institute of Theology

University of Balamand, LEBANON

Oct. 2010 – Present

Editorial Board Member

Annals

Saint John of Damascus Institute of Theology

University of Balamand, LEBANON

Oct. 2011 – Sept. 2013

Academic Coordinator

Bachelor of Theology Program

Saint John of Damascus Institute of Theology

University of Balamand, LEBANON

June 2009 – Present

Editorial Board Member

Revistei Teologia

 Ilarion V. Felea Faculty of Theology

Aurel Vlaicu State University of Arad, ROMANIA

Sept. 2010 – 2013

Adoption of my book:  The Resurrection and Life:
The Eschatology of Saint Gregory Palamas  as
a textbook taught in undergraduate courses of Patrology.

 Faculty of Theology,

Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, GREECE

Professional Memberships, Affiliations, Associations:

April 2011 – March 2012

Member of the Steering Committee that planed and organized the Joint Inter-Orthodox Courses on Ecclesiology initiated by the World Council of Churches in collaboration with the Orthodox Theological Faculty of the Aristotle University Thessaloniki, Greece, the Orthodox Theological Faculty Andrei Saguna of Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu, Romania and the St John of Damascus Institute of Theology, University of Balamand, Lebanon. (The courses took place as following: April 2011 in Thessaloniki; October 2011 in Sibiu; April 2012 in Balamand).

2011 – Present

Founding Member

Ecumenical Patristic Society

Chair: The Finnish Institute at Athens, GREECE

2009 – Present

Member

International Association of the Orthodox Dogmatic Theologians.

Chair: Ilarion V. Felea Faculty of Theology

Aurel Vlaicu State University of Arad, ROMANIA

Community Service:

2012 – Present

Member and Representative of the Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East

Bible Society Board – Middle East, LEBANON

2008 – Present

Member

Bible Society General Assembly – Middle East,
LEBANON

2008 – 2011

Observer and Representative of the Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East

Bible Society Board – Middle East, LEBANON

September 2007

Representative of the Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East

The Tenth Session of the International Theological Dialogue Between the Orthodox Church and the World Alliance of Reformed Churches (Volos, September 27-October 2, 2007), GREECE

Publications

1. Books

2010 Georgi F., The Resurrection and Life: The Eschatology of Saint Gregory Palamas. Barbounaki, Thessaloniki 2010. (408 pages) ISBN 978-960-267-150-4 (IN GREEK)

2. Chapters in Books (Peer-Reviewed)

2012 Georgi P., “The Influence of the Cappadocian Fathers on Saint Gregory Palamas,” in The spiritual Heritage of the Cappadocians for the Multi-confessional and Multi-Ethnical Christianity Today. Ed. N. Dumitrascu, Versita De Gruyter Publishing House, Berlin (Under Print).

2010 Georgi F., “The Vision of God as a Foretaste of Eternal Life in the Teaching of Saint Gregory Palamas,” in Gotteserlebnis und Gotteslehre: Christlische und islamische Mystik im Orient. Gottingen Orientforschungen Syriaca 38, ed. M. Tamcke, Harrassowitz Verlag, Wiesbaden 2010, 147 – 156. ISBN 9-783447-064262

3. Edited/Co-edited Books

2012 Georgi P. (editor), Saint John the Damascene: Theology, Image, and Melody. Balamand Theological Conferences 3, Saint John of Damascus Institute of Theology, Balamand. ISBN 978-9953-452-57-9

2012 Georgi P. (editor), Bioethics: Need for a Paradigm Shift? Balamand Theological Conferences 2, Saint John of Damascus Institute of Theology and Academy of Hofgeismar, Balamand – Hofgeismar 2012. ISBN 978-9953-452-42-5

2010 Kattan A. and Georgi F. (editors), Thinking Modernity: Towards a Reconfiguration of the Relationship between Orthodox Theology and Modern Culture. Balamand Theological Conferences 1, Saint John of Damascus Institute of Theology and Westphalian Wilhelm‟s University Center for Religious Studies, Balamand – Münster 2010. ISBN 978-9953-452-31-9

4. Articles in Peer-Reviewed Journals

2013 Georgi P., “‘In a place of Light:’ Death According to Saint Gregory Palamas,” in the Annals of the Saint John of Damascus Institute of Theology, (Under Print, Expected Date of Issue: December 2013). (IN ARABIC)

2012 Georgi P., “Theological Features of Spiritual Experience and the Vision of the Divine Light According to Saint Gregory Palamas,” in the Annals of the Saint John of Damascus Institute of Theology. (IN ARABIC)

5. Published Conferences

2013 Georgi P., “The Christological Foundation of Spiritual Life According to Saint Gregory Palamas,” in Dogma and Terminology in the Orthodox Tradition Today, 4^th Symposium of Orthodox Dogmatic Theology - The International Association of the Orthodox Dogmatic Theologians, Sofia, September 22 – 25, (Under Print). (IN BULGARIAN) (Peer-Reviewed)

2013 Georgi P., “Deification as the Fulfillment of the Human: The Gift of Life according to the Teaching of Saint Gregory Palamas,” in The Ages of Spiritual life – the 21^st International Conference on Orthodox Spirituality, Monastery of Bose, September 4 – 7, 2013, (Under Print). (IN ITALIAN) (Peer-Reviewed)

2012 Georgi P., “Notes on Christology in Saint John the Damascene and its Significance Today,” in Saint John of Damascus: Theology, Image, and Melody. Ed. by P. Georgi, Balamand Theological Conferences 3, Saint John of Damascus Institute of Theology, Balamand. (Peer-Reviewed)

2012  Georgi P., “Eschatology in the Antiochian Fathers up to the Fifth Century,” in Exegesis and Theology in the Antiochian Schools of Antioch, Edessa and Nisibis. Balamand Theological Conferences 5, Saint John of Damascus Institute of Theology, Balamand (Under Print). (Peer-Reviewed)

2012 Georgi P., “From Glory to Glory: The Dialectic of Death and Transfiguration According to Saint Gregory Palamas,” in Saint Gregory Palamas: The Theological and Philosophical Significance of His Work. Ed. C. Athanassopoulos, Cambridge Institute for Orthodox Christian Studies, Cambridge U.K. (Under Print). (Peer-Reviewed)

2012 Georgi F., “The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and the Ecumenical Perspective in Theological Education,” in The Ecumenical Movement in Theological Education and in the Life of Orthodox Churches: International Inter-Orthodox Conference, Sibiu, Romania, November 2010. Ed. D. Buda, WCC Press and the Orthodox Theological Faculty Andrei Şaguna, Geneva – Sibiu (Under Print).

2012 Georgi F., “An Orthodox Response to The Nature and Mission of the Church: The Eucharist (Paragraphs 78 – 81),” in The Inter-Orthodox Consultation the Nature and Mission of the Church: A Stage on the Way to a Common Statement (Faith and Order Paper 198, 2005 WCC) Aghia Napa/Paralimni, March 2 – 9, 2011. Ed. G. Limouris, WCC Press, Geneva (Under Print).

2012 Georgi P., “Witnessing to the Gospel in a Changing World: The Challenges of Christian Mission in the Patriarchate of Antioch,” in Challenges of Christian Mission in a Changing World, Conference organized at the University Lucian Blaga of Sibiu, Orthodox Theological Faculty Andrei Şaguna, Sibiu, June 11 – 12, 2012. (Under Print).

2010 Georgi F., “Death as an Expression of a Theocentric Anthropology in the Thought of Saint Gregory Palamas,” in Teologie si Viata Isihasta in Opera Sf. Grigorie Palama. Ed. Picu Ocoleanu & Nicolae Razvan Stan, Studia Theologica 2, Trans. Nicolae Razvan Stan, Crajova 2010, 135 – 148. (IN ROMANIAN) (Peer-Reviewed)

2009 Georgi F., “Saint Gregory Palamas: An Essential Key for Teaching Dogmatic Theology Today,” in Tradition and Dogma: What Kind of Dogmatic Theology do we Propose for Nowadays? Ed. I. Tulcan and C. Ioja, International Association of Orthodox Dogmatic Theologians and Aurel Vlaicu University of Arad Faculty of Theology, Arad 2009, 74 - 85. (Peer-Reviewed)

6. Academic Presentations

2012 Georgi P., “Eucharistic Ecclesiology in the Ecumenical Discourse: The Case of The Nature and Mission of the Church Document,” in the Joint Inter-Orthodox Course for Ecumenical Formation: Prayer and the Eucharist from an Ecclesiological and Ecumenical Perspective, organized by the World Council of Churches and the Saint John of Damascus Institute of Theology, University of Balamand, April 25 – 27, 2012. (Keynote Lecture)

2011 Georgi P., “The Pastoral Agreement between the Roum Orthodox and the Syriac Patriarchates of Antioch,” in the Joint Inter-Orthodox Course for Ecumenical Formation: Orthodox Ecclesiology and the Challenges of the Ecumenical Movement, organized by the World Council of Churches and the Theological Faculty of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, April 3 – 7, 2011. (Keynote Lecture)

2011 Georgi P., “The 1993 Balamand Agreement: Background, Content and Reception,” in the Joint Inter-Orthodox Course for Ecumenical Formation: The Holy Mysterion of Baptism and its Ecclesiological Implications from an Ecumenical Perspective, organized by the World Council of Churches and the University Lucian Blaga of Sibiu, Orthodox Theological Faculty Andrei Şaguna, Sibiu, November 9 – 12, 2011. (Keynote Lecture)

2011 Georgi P., “Christian Presence in the Middle East: Past, Present and Perspectives for the Future,” State University Lucian Blaga of Sibiu, Orthodox Theological Faculty Andrei Şaguna, Sibiu, November 12, 2011. (Keynote Lecture)

2011 Georgi P., “The Relevance of the Cappadocian Theology to a Modern Cultural Context,” in the International Conference on the Cappadocian Fathers, organized by the Department of Systematic Theology of the Abo Academy Faculty of Theology and the Finnish Institute in Athens, at the Finnish Institute in Athens, December 5 – 7, 2011.

2010 Georgi F., “The Message of Orthodox Christology Today,” in the International Conference: The Holy Scripture, the Word of God for Every Age, the Second Theological Convention in the Patriarchate of Alexandria, Cairo, January 28 – 30, 2010, (IN ARABIC)

2010 Georgi F., “Christology of the Sixth Century and its Reception,” in the Debate on the Book La Route Royale: Sévère D’Antioche et les Églises d’Orient (512 – 518) by Frederic Alpi, organized at the Centre Culturel Francais in Beirut, by the Department of Archeology and History of Antiquity – Institut Francais du Proche Orient, Beirut, March 18, 2010. (IN FRENCH)

2010 Georgi F., “Man, His Nature and Salvation: Anthropology in the Thought of Saint Basil of Ceasarea,” in The Actuality of Saint Basil the Great: International Conference in Turku (September 20 – 23, 2010), the Faculty of Theology of Abo Academy, Turku (Finland).

2009 Georgi F., “Is the Doctrine of the Holy Trinity Relevant to the Life of the Believer?” in the Annual Lectures organized at the Near East School of Theology, Beirut, May 21, 2009.

Academic and Administrative Services at the University of Balamand

Sept. 2013 – present

Dean of the Saint John of Damascus Institute of Theology

Oct. 2013 – present

Academic Coordinator of the PhD Program Committee

The function of this committee is to establish the doctoral academic program at the Saint John of Damascus Institute of Theology.

Oct. 2011 – present  

Member of the Committee commissioned by the Dean of the Saint John of Damascus Institute of Theology to make a new translation of the Triodion Book.

Oct. 2007 – present

Member of the Council of the Institute of Theology

It is the administrative body which supervises the students’ life and the academic operation of the Institute.

Oct. 2011 – Sept. 2013 

Member of the Academic Committee at the Faculty of Theology

This committee focuses on the academic programs at the Institute which are the Bachelor of Theology, the Master‟s of Theology, and the online study programs. As a member of this committee I was in charge of the Bachelor program.

Academic Coordinator of the Bachelor of Theology Program at the Institute of Theology.

Oct. 2007 – Sept. 2013

Member of the Administrative Committee of the University

The committee is in charge of assessing student cases related to disciplinary issues and reported by the Faculties, professors and administrators, such as plagiarism, academic dishonesty, trouble making, acts of violence, etc…

April 2012

Local Organizer of the Joint Inter-Orthodox Courses on Ecclesiology initiated by the World Council of Churches in collaboration with the Orthodox Theological Faculty of the Aristotle University Thessaloniki, Greece, the Orthodox Theological Faculty Andrei Saguna of Lucian Blaga University Sibiu, Romania and the St John of Damascus Institute of Theology, University of Balamand, Lebanon, in Balamand (April 24 – 26)

Feb. 2007 – Sept. 2011

Coordinator of the Research and Publication Committee at the Institute of Theology

My job was to organize, supervise, and follow up the work of the committee. I had a special interest in encouraging publication of translation works.

Oct. 2007 – Sept. 2011

Member of the Research Council of the University

The Research Council encourages and supports both theoretical and applied research at UOB and connects the university's research activities with national and international research centers, and with major publishing houses. It evaluates and continuously works on improving the quality of research at UOB.

Oct. 2006 – Feb. 2011

Coordinator of Students’ Extracurricular Activities at the Institute of Theology

My responsibility is to set the program of extracurricular activities at the Institute as well as to apply it, with the aim of enriching the student life experience.

Oct. 2006 – Sept. 2010

Member of the Research and Publication Committee at the Institute of Theology

The duty of this committee is to define the general policy of research and publication as well as to assure the production of published works and researches at the Institute.

Dec. 2009

Scientific Coordinator of the International Conference “Saint John of Damascus: Theology, Image, and Melody” which was held by the Institute of Theology at the Patriarchal Monastery of Balamand on December 1 – 4, 2009.

Dec. 2008

Coordinator of the International Conference “Bioethics: Need for a Paradigm Shift?” which was held by the Institute of Theology and the Academy of Hofgeismar (Germany) at the Patriarchal Monastery of Balamand on December 1 – 3, 2008.

May 2006

Commissioned to design a Proposal for the “New Program of Teaching Dogmatic Theology at the Saint John of Damascus Institute of Theology.” It was approved by the council of the Institute and has been implemented since October 2006.