On May 8-9, 2023, the city of Iasi, Romania, hosted the 15th edition of the Studia Theologica Doctoralia Symposium. This prominent academic event was co-organized by the Dimitru Staniloae Faculty of Orthodox Theology in Iasi, in collaboration with the St John of Damascus Institute of Theology at the University of Balamand (UOB), the Faculty of Theology in Thessaloniki, Greece, and the Catholic Faculty of Theology in Graz, Austria

This year the Dean of the St. John of Damascus Institute of Theology, Rt. Rev. Prof. Jack Khalil and Prof. Daniel Ayuch represented UOB and showcased their research studies. Fr. Khalil delivered a welcoming addressed on behalf of UOB, and an opening lecture titled “Ἀρχή and Λόγος in 1 John 1:1 and in the Prologue of the Gospel According to John: New Arguments in Favor of the Correspondence in Meaning.” Prof. Ayuch presented a study entiteled: “The Hymn of the Elder Simeon in Luke 2, 29-32. Its Narrative Context and Theology.”

During the Symposium, distinguished professors and Ph.D. candidates presented their research papers, including, Mr. Ammar Awad, M.Th. from UOB and a Ph.D. candidate in Iasi in the field of liturgy, who shared his research paper entitled “Western Syriac Anaphoras: Structure and Characteristics. Case Study: The second Antiochene Anaphora of the Twelve Apostles.”

The conference provided a platform for professors and Ph.D. candidates to showcase their research and engage in fruitful discussions.

In addition to the conference, Fr. Khalil and Prof. Ayuch participated in an Erasmus+ Mobility Week held from May 7 to May 13, 2023. This teaching mobility program served as an opportunity for the visiting professors to immerse themselves in the academic environment of UAIC, gaining insights into both undergraduate and graduate programs. The students, in turn, benefited from exposure to new perspectives and research in the field of New Testament exegesis.







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