Institute of Theology

November 24, 2005

During his visit to Balamand, His Beatitude IGNATIUS IV, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, gave a special time to meet the students and answer various questions they had.

His Beatitude spoke about how the attitude of the student who plans to join a School of Theology ought to be. He made it clear that this prospective student needs to clarify his objectives of coming to Balamand, before beginning to apply. The student needs to clarify his objectives and be sure of his real intentions. Otherwise he will face many personal difficulties as a servant of God.

Serving the Church, as His Beatitude states, is an essential mission in Christianity.  One needs to have a mind and heart of self-giving and thankfulness. If one thinks he is here to benefit from the Church, this one has a wrong mindset. Many Church institutions would not existed unless there were people who gave all their lives selflessly in the service of "the other," the neighbor, or the fellow citizen. These institutions will not prosper unless they continue to be led by selfless people.

Afterwards, His Beatitude answered many student questions pertaining to pastoral issues.

The Dean Thanking His Beatitude for Offering his Time to Meet the Students

   "Service in the Church is Selfless Giving"

   
His Beatitude with the Students from the Americas

October 14-21, 2005

Upon the gracious invitation of the Catholic Committee for Cultural Collaboration, the Third Year Class students of St. John of Damascus Institute of Theology, University of Balamand, traveled for one week to Rome, led by Archimandrite Isaac Barakat. The group had a very extensive program. It received a very warm welcome from all Vatican officials. The students were very grateful to visit and closely admire the richest heritage of the Christian Church as found in the Vatican.
Below are some of the pictures taken at various places visited.
 

September 27, 2005
 

In the occasion of the new Academic Year 2005-6, St. John of Damascus Institute of Theology held a Vespers service at the Monastery of Balamand Church. Archimandrite Isaac Barakat, the Abbot of the Balamand Monastery, presided the service and the Choir of St. John of Damascus chanted. All the Faculty, staff, and students of the Institute, as well as the University of Balamand Officers attended the event.

After the Vespers, Dr. Elie Salem addressed the audience at the Monastery Great Hall. In the beginning Dr. Salem welcomed the new Dean, Dr. Georges Nahas, who is also the Vice President of the University since its inception eighteen years ago.

Afterwards the President spoke about the essential role of the Institute in the Orthodox Church, and the need to reinterpret theology for today's world, bringing the believers closer to the Divine. (Click here to read the complete text in Arabic).

After the Service of Blessing of Water celebrated at the Institute of Theology, the Dean, Dr. Georges Nahas, addressed the students, greeting and welcoming them, and expressing his enthusiasm for the beginning of this year. In his speech, Dr. Nahas stressed the special Antiochian identity of the Institute, being the only Antiochian institute of theological studies of higher education in the world.

The Dean urged the students to work for academic excellence and deepen their theological knowledge by continuous research. He also brought their attention to the demands of community life, and the importance of order and punctuality. (Click here to read the complete text in Arabic).

The ceremony ended with a meal of love shared by all the Faculty, Staff and students of the Institute.

Dr. Elie Salem, President, in his Opening Speech

The Audience at the Balamand Monastery Great Hall

Blessing of Water Service at the Institute of Theology

The Dean, Dr. Georges Nahas, Welcoming the Student