His Beatitude Patriarch John X celebrates the Divine Liturgy in the Monastery of Our Lady of Balamand
On the Occasion of the Opening of the Academic Year at the St. John of Damascus Institute of Theology
His Beatitude Patriarch John X, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, presided over the Sunday August 28th, 2022, Liturgy at the Church of Our Lady of Balamand Patriarchal Monastery, Lebanon, on the occasion of the opening of the academic year at the St. John of Damascus Institute of Theology. Their Eminences, Metropolitan Silouan Moussi (Mount Lebanon), Metropolitan Ghattas Hazim (Baghdad and Kuwait), and His Grace Bishop Moses al-Khosi assisted His Beatitude in the service, with the participation of the Dean of the Institute of Theology, Rt. Rev. Archimandrite Jack Khalil, and many priests, deacons, and students from the institute, and the institute's choir served the liturgy.
Her excellency, the Greek Ambassador, Katerina Fountoulaki, attended, in addition to Deputy Adib Abdel Masih, President of the University of Balamand, Dr. Elias al-Warrak, Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches, Dr. Michel Abs, the university's vice presidents, deans, university and institute professors, and numerous believers.
His Eminence Silouan delivered a homily, in which he spoke about the meaning of today's gospel and the importance of forgiveness, forgiving each other, and purifying oneself from sins.
In conclusion, His Beatitude Patriarch John X wished a blessed academic year to all students and employees of the institute and the university, thanking the Lord for this divine liturgy and wishing a blessed year to all students. His Beatitude underlined that studying is the basis for preparing future people for the good of man and the country.
This news was originally published on the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East’ Facebook page.
