Archimandrite Ephrem in Balamand
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الأب إفرام كيرياكوس في البلمند
17 آذار 2009 زار الأرشمندريت أفرام كرياكوس رئيس دير مار ميخائيل بقعاتا، معهد اللاهوت حيث أمضى يومين وكان له حديث مع الطلاب حول أهمية الصوم وصلاة وكيفية تنسيق كلّ طالب لعمله ودروسه وصلاته وتنظيم حياته الداخلية. وقدّم الأب إفرام حديثاً آخر في دير سيدة البلمند البطريركي بعنوان "تكريم القديسين ورفاتهم" تطرّق فيه إلى المنطلق الأساس الذي من خلاله تُكرّم الكنيسة الأرثوذكسية قديسيها. وركّز على أن النعمة التي في كل إنسان إذا ما قام بتفعيلها بحياته تكون نوراً يَشِعُ للآخرين. من هنا فإن الكنيسة تكرّم القديسين ولأن هذه النعمة تعبر حتى إلى المادة فإننا نكرّم أيضاً المواد التي استعملوها لأن الإنسان القديس بحياته، يستطيع أن يقدس الخليقة كلها من حوله بواسطة النعمة التي فيه.
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Student Field Work
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Early on a Saturday morning (October 11, 2008), the students of the faculty of theology had an activity which united the bonds of the students and the Monastery of Our Lady of Balamand. The activity took place on the land surrounding the monastery. They performed many activities together like picking lemons from the trees of the monastery and picking up chopped wood from trees. After the activity, the students were invited by Archimandrite Isaac Barakat to drink some coffee and some sweets.
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New Academic Year Celebration
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On Sunday September 28, 2008, the St. John of Damascus Institute of Theology began its new academic year with a Divine Liturgy celebrated at the Monastery of Balamand Church. Archimandrite Isaac Barakat, the Abbot of the Balamand Monastery, presided over the Liturgy 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 joined in. After the Divine Liturgy, everyone gathered to share in a meal of love together. On Monday morning, September 29, the Service of the Blessing of Water was celebrated at the Institute of Theology. After the service, 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 elaborated on two subjects: the reason of their presence in the Institute, and the reason of the existence of the Institute. Dr. Nahas took as a basis for his elaboration the Epistle passage of past Sunday (2 Cor. 6:4-15). He explaining that the words in this epistle are not theory but a fact and a reality. First, he emphasized that the priest's role is to die for the parish, and not vice versa, and this idea has to be lived in the Institute as well. With all our weaknesses, many things can be made, since "we have this treasure in our earthen vessels..." Second, the Dean spoke about the Institute's role as being the witness of unity in the Antiochian Church.. In it the students learn how to be open to other dioceses, cooperate and become one. Finally, Dr. Nahas told the students that they are demanded to work tirelessly in the Institute, and getting the necessary training to serve Christ.
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Graduation Ceremonies 2008
تخريج طلاب اللاهوت في البلمند لسنة 2008
June 27, 2008
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The Graduates
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The graduation ceremony begun in the afternoon with a Vespers officiated by His Eminence Metropolitan George of Mount Lebanon and served by Archimandrite Isaac Barakat, Abbot of the Balamand Patriarchal Monastery. This year, the number of graduates was twenty two as follows: 20 received a Bachelor of Theology Degree and two A Master of Theology degree. After the end of the celebration, the Institute of Theology invited the students and their parents to a Buffet in the occasion. May the Lord God bless our graduates, bestowing on them the zeal to serve Him in righteousness and truth. أقام معهد القديس يوحنا الدمشقي اللاهوتي حفل تخريج 22 طالبا من حملة الإجازة والماستر في اللاهوت في قاعة دير البلمند البطريركي، برعاية بطريرك انطاكية وسائر المشرق لطائفة الروم الارثوذكس اغناطيوس الرابع هزيم، وحضور المتروبوليت جورج خضر، راعي أبرشية جبل لبنان، والأرشمندريت اسحق بركات، رئيس دير سيدة البلمند البطريركي، ورئيس جامعة البلمند الدكتور ايلي سالم، وعميد معهد اللاهوت الدكتور جورج نحاس، وعمداء الكليات وأفراد الهيئة التعليمية. وفي النهاية، استضاف الدير الطلاب المتخرجين وأوليائهم على كزكتيل في أروقة الدير وشكروا الرب على نعمه طالبين لصاحب الغبطة البطريرك إغناطيوس الرابع راعي المعهد بمحبته وأبوته السنين العديدة. .
Delivering of the Diplomas
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