May 28,  2007

From May 22^nd to May 23^rd, 2007, the Faculty of Orthodox Theology at Oradea (North Romania) had organized a conference on Theology and Society in the Work of Saint John Chrysostom. During the conference Prof. Daniel Ayuch, Associate Professor at the Institute of Theology, Balamand, presented a paper titled: Chrysostoms Social Action Teaching in His sermons on the Gospel According to Luke.

The conference was inaugurated by His Eminence Archbishop Sofronie of Oradea who also received the participants at his residence and guided them through the Museum of Religious Art that functions at the Archbishopric.

During his visit to Romania, Prof. Ayuch met Fr. Prof. Nicu Dumitraşcu, the Dean of the Faculty of Orthodox Theology in Oradea, in order to coordinate some collaborative programs between Balamand and Oradea. Prof. Ayuch also visited Fr. Prof. Constantin Rus, the Dean at the Faculty of Orthodox Theology at Arad, who together with his faculty members showed a deep concern over the awkward days that the Lebanese people have to suffer.

The fourteen faculties of Orthodox theology in Romania are modern institutions with a long tradition in theological education. With the exception of the ones in Bucharest and Sibiu, all other faculties have been reopened in the early nineties after the political change that Romania has undergone. They have been conceived as a response to the increasing necessity of the Church for pastors, educators, social workers, pastoral assistants and church music cantors.

The faculty of theology at Oradea is situated in a cosmopolitan town of Transylvania where different Christian confessions as well as other religions live together. The faculty members have several book and article publications and organize international conferences on a regular basis. The Faculty offers Bachelor, Master and Doctorate degrees as well.

Archbishop Sofronie