Beginning of the New Academic Year 2002-03
at St. John of Damascus Faculty of Theology - University of Balamand
Monday Evening, September 30, 2002
| In the occasion of the new Academic Year 2002-3, the service of Great Vespers was celebrated at the Church of Our Lady of Balamand at 7:00 PM, September 30, 2002. The Vespers was followed by the Service of the Blessing of Water. His Eminence Metropolitan Elias (Kurban) presided over both services in the presence of His Eminence Metropolitan Boulos (Bandali) and the Dean, His Grace Bishop Youhanna (Yazigi), the students, faculty members and staff of the Institute, along with other dignitaries: Dr. George Nahas, representing His Excellency Dr. Elie Salem, President of the University of Balamand (being out of the country), Deans and Directors of the University of Balamand, Mr. Elias Bou Chahine, Member of the University Board of Trusties, Mr. Salim Bitar, Director of Balamand High School, with many other friends and alumni of Balamand.
After welcoming the new students, His Eminence Metropolitan Elias (Kurban) spoke about the important role of the Institute since its inception in educating and preparing all the church workers of the Antiochian Church in the east and the diaspora. Afterward, everyone was invited to a festal dinner at the Institute. The Dean Bishop John thanked everyone for their love in preapring this meal and organizing this event. He asked the Lord to bless this New Academic Year and stenghten the students in their Academic pursuits and spiritual life. |
His Eminence Metropolitan Elias (Kurban) |
Students Return from Greece
UNIVERSITY OF BALAMAND
ST JOHN OF DAMASCUS INSTITUTE OF THEOLOGY
ANNUAL SUMMER TRIP TO GREECE - 2002
Every year, students from St. John of Damascus Institute of Theology visit Greece during the summer to study Greek and visit the holy Christian shrines and monasteries, especially Mount Athos. This year, the students resided at the Monastery in Pendeli, near Athens, where they took for almost two months an intensive Greek course. Below are some pictures that describe their journey.
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| Feast of the Holy Transfiguration: The Balamand Choir with His Beatitude Christodoulos, Archbishop of Athens and All Greece
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The Balamand Students in Pendeli with His Beatitude Christodoulos, Archbishop of Athens and All Greece |
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| The Choir of St. John of Damascus Institute of Theology chanting in the Service presided by His Eminence Bishop John Thermopilon
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Feast of the Dormition with His Eminence Bishop John Thermopilon, Abbot of the Pendeli Monastery |
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| Honoring the Teachers of Greek Language at the Pendeli Monastery
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A Group picture with His Eminence Bishop John Thermopilon in the Monastery of Pendeli |
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| In Ormylia, with Bishop John of Balamand
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In the Holy Annunciation Convent, Thiva |
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| Balamand Choir Chanting at the Gregoriou Monastery - Mount Athos | With a Monk in the Simono Petra Monastery - Mount Athos
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| A Pastoral Tour in the Archdiocese of Thiva, with Metropolitan Ironimos of Thiva, and Archimandrite George Abbot of the Monastery of the Righteous Luke, and Bishop John of Balamand |
With Metropolitan Kalinikos of of Piraeos |
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| Bishop John of Balamand presents a gift to Metropolitan Ironimos. Sitting to the left is the Abbess of the Monastery of Jerusalem |
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| With Bishops Ironimos of Thiva, Nicolaos of Vetiotidos, and John of Balamand | |
Graduation 2002
UNIVERSITY OF BALAMAND
ST JOHN OF DAMASCUS INSTITUTE OF THEOLOGY
GRADUATION CEREMONIES
July 22, 2002
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Dr. Walid Moubayed, Dean pf Admissions,
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Deans and Faculty Members |
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Balamand Choir chanted hymns in the occasion |
His Grace Bishop Youhanna Yazigi, Dean of the Institute, calls upon the graduates of St. John of Damascus Institute of Theology to come forward
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Opening of the New Academic Year
St. John of Damascus Faculty of Theology - University of Balamand
Sunday Evening, September 30, 2001
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In the occasion of the new Academic Year 2001-2 at the Institute, A Vespers was celebrated at the Church of Our Lady of Balamand at 7:00 PM, September 30, 2001. The Vespers was followed by the Service of the Blessing of Water. His Eminence Metropolitan Elias (Kurban) presided over both services in the presence of the students, faculty members and staff of the Insitute, and other dignitaries: His Excellency Dr. ELie Salem, President of the University of Balamand, Dr. Walid Moubayed, Dean of Admissions, Dr. Naiim Rouadi, Interim Dean of the Faculty of Arts & Science, Mr. George Fiani, Assitant Dean of ALBA, Mr. Elias Bou Chahin, Member of the University Board of Trusties, and Archimandrite Pentelimon Farah, Abbot of the Monastery of Our Lady of Hamatoura. |
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| His Eminence Metropolitan Elias (Kurban) spoke in the occasion: "We are in this blessed evening celebrating the feast of St. Ananias, one of the Seventy, along with St. Romanos the Melodist. We know that this Apostle has played an important role in this history of the church. He baptized the Apostle Paul. When "Saul" was coming from Jerusalem to Damascus to persecute the church, the Lord appeared to him on the gates of Damascus. He asked Him: " Who are you?" And the Lord answered: " I am the one whom you persecute." From that moment his life was transformed from a persecutor to an evangelizer. He accepted to be baptized on the hands of Ananias. We know about the great role that the Apostle Paul played in spreading the word of God in the world.
We also celebrate today the memory of St. Romanos the Melodist whose hymns have thrilled us (We take this occasion to congratulate Archdeacon Romanos present with us on his name day). This a blessed night in which we ask God to send down His Grace upon us in the beginning of this Academic Year. This Institute provides a great support to the Church here and abroad. We put great hopes on it. The Institute is - if Dr. Elie permits- the heart of the University. It is the first faculty that appeared on this hill. God Willing, it will remain as the heart of the University. We are in great need of you my beloved. His Beatitude presided over the last Commencement. He is the father of the Balamand community and the establisher of all its institutions. He founded this Institute and cared for the Monastery. He also built the High School and this prestigious University with high academic level of excellence, of which we are proud. During the last Commencement, fourteen students graduated from this Institute. The Church is in great need of many graduates to serve everywhere. We need priests who are not just pious, but also educated. We live in a period of many scientific discoveries, and also in a time of dialogue among Christians and Muslims. This dialogue started when Islam appeared, and it will continue, since there is nothing else to be done in these days when men started to destroy the universe. We miss our brother, His Grace Bishop Yuhanna, the new Dean of the Institute. We know him as a Dean when he was years ago, and he gave a lot to this institute. He is well equipped to make this Institute grow further during his time. We also miss His Eminence Metropolitan of Aleppo, the former Dean, who gave a lot to this Institute. The prayers of His Beatitude the Patriarch are with us. We thank the presence of all brothers (Archimandrites and priests). We thank the presence among us of Dr. Elie Salem, thepresident of the Institue, and Mr. ELias Bou Chahin and the Deans. We are one complex in this place. It is a beacon and it will remain a place of light and knowledge, the knowledge of the word. We emphasize on the study of Scripture. We ask the Almighty God to grant His Beatitude, and you also, Many Years. The Grace of our Lord be with you always. Amen." After the service, the invited guests sat in the Salon and congratulated the Institute with the New Academic Year.
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