The Association of Theological Institutes in the Middle East
(ATIME)
Holds Its General Assembly Meeting Hosted by the Saint John of Damascus Institute of Theology - Balamand, Lebanon
You can find a photo album below the text.
With the blessings of His Beatitude Patriarch John X, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East and President of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) for the Orthodox Family, the Association of Theological Institutes in the Middle East (ATIME) held its General Assembly meeting in its first regular session for the academic year 2023-2024, on Tuesday 3 October 2023, hosted by the Saint John of Damascus Institute of Theology - Balamand, Lebanon.
Attendees were the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches Dr. Michel Abs, President of the Association of Theological Institutes in the Middle East, and Dean of the Saint John of Damascus Institute at the University of Balamand in Lebanon, Archimandrite Dr. Jack Khalil, and the ATIME’s Executive Secretary Father Dr. Michael Kanbar, alongside Deans of 18 Institutes from Egypt, Syria, Lebanon and Iraq.
The meeting started with a morning Prayer, which was followed with a speech delivered by the Dean of the Balamand Institute Archimandrite Dr. Jack Khalil, in which he welcomed, on behalf of His Beatitude Patriarch John X, Dr. Michel Abs and the Deans Members of the General Assembly. He also shed light on the international scientific symposium that will be held at the Institute under the guidance of His Beatitude Patriarch John X, and with his Blessings and presence. The Symposium is entitled “The Antiochian Orthodox Church from the Fifteenth to the Eighteenth Century. Towards an Accurate Understanding of History,” and will take place from 15 to 18 October 2023.
In addition, Archimandrite Dr. Jack Khalil, as ATIME’s President, spoke about the most important activities implemented by the Association in the previous year, and highlighted the agenda of this regular session hosted by the Institute. He also mentioned the principal topics that will be studied by the General Assembly which will determine the program of activities for the entire year at all levels.
Then, the MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs delivered a speech in which he appreciated the work of ATIME in the last year and stressed its strong and promising start, expressing his conviction of the centrality of the Association in Ecumenical work in the Middle East. He also said that ATIME has become a community of knowledge and faith despite all the challenges and developments taking place in the Middle East and the world.
Moreover Dr. Michel Abs emphasized the importance of the role of youth in the Church, as he talked about the series of meetings held by the MECC Department of Theology and Ecumenical Relations with young women and men from all over the Middle East as part of the Youth Expectations Program. He added that a number of them have been delegated to attend the meeting of the Executive Committee of the MECC held in November 2022, in order to express their concerns and aspirations to the delegates and leaders of the Church.
Afterwards, the sessions of the General Assembly of the Association of Theological Institutes in the Middle East (ATIME) began, and carried a lot of hope to work together with an Ecumenical spirit in the Middle East.
Photos: University of Balamand (UOB) - Lebanon
