Georges N. Nahas
Dean
Professor of Education

Dr. Nahas’ research is based on modern cognitive theories and their application in learning, as well as their impact on the curricula, learning methodology, and education production. Dr. Nahas works as well on linking this field of research with the pedagogical needs of the Church at all levels. He has published several articles in local and international journals and books. (Read Faculty Profile)

Archimandrite Isaac Barakat
Assistant Dean
Professor of Liturgics

As the Abbot of the Monastery of Our Lady of Balamand and a former parish priest, Archimandrite Isaac’s interest focuses on the applied study of liturgy in the service, with a continuous endeavor to convey to the students the meanings of liturgical gestures and symbols. He is also interested in the meanings of liturgical services and divine sacraments, with emphasis on practical and applied aspects, aiming at a better practice in the parish. He joined the faculty in 2000.

Daniel Ayuch
Assistant to the Dean
Associate Professor of New Testament and of Classical Greek

Dr. Ayuch is concerned with reading the New Testament not only to rediscover the roots of the Antioch, but also to help students navigate the Enlightenment and modern critical thought. His research is based on linguistic and narrative text analysis and his fields of interest include the Lukan Diptych, the Synoptic Gospels, and the Early Jewish Wisdom in inter-testamentarian literature. He has been a member of the faculty since 2000. (Read Faculty Profile)

Nicolas Abou Mrad
Assistant Professor of Old Testament and Biblical Hebrew

Dr. Abou Mrad’s interest revolves around reading the Old Testament in its cultural environment and against the background of the Ancient Near Eastern Civilizations which prompted the appearance of Old Testament traditions and formulations, especially in the first five books. Abou Mrad is also interested in how the theology of the Old Testament was received within the Christian faith as expressed in the New Testament. He joined the faculty in 2006.

Fadi Georgi
Assistant Professor of Dogmatic Theology

Dr. Georgi’s research in early Christianity, late Byzantine theology, and contemporary Orthodox thought has been inspired by his interest in interpreting the Orthodox dogma and patristic teachings in a pluralistic, culturally complex world. His research interests include Christian ecumenical discussions and Arabic literature. Fadi maintains an active interest in Islamic Culture and religion. He has been a member of the faculty since 2006.

Rami Wannous
Lecturer in Church History

His research interests include, in addition to church history, history of the churches in the east, thought of the Byzantine church Fathers, and principally the relation between their teachings and contemporary Orthodox theology. Editing and publishing Christian Arabic manuscripts, primarily the Antiochian manuscripts, is one of Mr. Wannous’ research interests. Mr. Wannous joined the faculty 2006. (Read Faculty Profile)

Fr. Bassam Nassif
Secretary General of the Institute and Dean’s Office Director
Lecturer in Pastoral Theology

As a pastor in the Antiochian Orthodox Church, Rev. Bassam Nassif is concerned with integrating the pastoral theology of the Orthodox Church with the research and experience of the human sciences, leading to the formation of a therapeutic pastoral care approach. Rev. Nassif‘s aim is to deal with modern challenges facing the Church in a pluralistic and secularized world. Building on scientific research and on the rich tradition of the church, he endeavors to offer a modern approach to pastoral care leading to the righteousness of modern man. He joined the faculty in 2005.

Archimandrite Jack Khalil
Assistant Professor of New Testament

A young Orthodox biblical scholar, Archimandrite Jack Khalil specializes in the exegesis of St. Paul. His Book on Pauline Soteriology, published in Greece (2004) and adopted as a text book at Aristotle University of Thessalonica since 2005, provided a ground-breaking study of the still hotly debated theme of Justification and Reconciliation by Faith in the Pauline Corpus. Archimandrite Jack is the author of various articles in different languages contributing to Pauline scholarship, as well as the interpretation of the New Testament, and has been invited to read in several Orthodox, Catholic and Protestant faculties worldwide as a visiting professor. He joined the faculty in 2000.

Fr. Ibrahim Chahine
Lecturer in Canon Law

Fr. Ibrahim Chahine, who joined the faculty in 1986, brings over 20 years of teaching experience to the field of cannon law. He was the president of the Primary Spiritual Court of Archdiocese of Greek Orthodox in Tripoli for more than 20 years and now as Councilor of the Spiritual Patriarchal Court of Greek Orthodox in Lebanon. Among his books are You and the Law containing three volumes which talks about personal conditions of the Greek Orthodox, Catholic and Muslim sects, and volume IV contains judgments and religious interpretations of the Primary Spiritual Court of Archdiocese of Greek Orthodox in Tripoli.

Marlène Kanaan
Professor of Philosophy and Civilizations

 Dr. Kanaan joined Balamand in 1989. Specializing in and teaching contemporary French philosophy, she also teaches general philosophy, ancient Greek philosophy, and medieval and modern philosophy, and taught for many years in the Civilization Sequence Program. She is interested in French and Arabic literature, the history of civilizations, the history of the Church, and the patristic and the spocryphal literature. Author of numerous studies, Dr. Kanaan is a member in various international associations such as Les Rencontres Nationales de Patristique- France, the Association pour l’Étude de la Littérature Apocryphe Chrétienne (AELAC)- Suisse, the Union des Philosophes Arabes, etc.

Fr. Georges Massouh
Associate Professor of Islamics

Fr. Dr. Massouh’s interests focus on Islamo-Christian studies in various fields. He works on topics which might add new knowledge to this field. He is attracted to the issue of relations within pluralistic communities, and the evolution of their mutual attitudes throughout centuries, without underestimating the theological basis in respecting the Other religiously and its place in divine providence and salvation.

Fr. Romanos Jibran
Lecturer in Byzantine Music

Fr. Jibran is a leading chorist in the Antiochian Orthodox Church. He has established several choirs in various parishes. His method of teaching is based on conveying to the students theoretical knowledge as well as practical performance.

Hannibal Karam
Lecturer of Arabic and Research Methodology

Mr. Karam worked in the field of journalism for four years before choosing academia. Since 1999 he has taught Arabic for foreigners, Arabic language, and Research Methodology at the University of Balamand. He is also a professor at the School of Balamand. Some of his writings will be published soon.

Maria Alexiou
Professor of the Modern Greek Language

Besides her theological knowledge, Mrs. Alexiou is also interested in literature and philosophy as well as modern poetry and European and American novels. She is also interested in linguistics. She has a wide knowledge of Greek mythology and the history of Semitic and oriental civilizations.

Elie Dannaoui
Lecturer in Church History & Educational Technology

 The academic interest of Mr. Dannaoui is predominantly the history of Christianity under Ottoman rule. He also has interests in philology and the study and critical edition of Christian manuscripts written in Arabic. Besides theology, Mr. Dannaoui is working on the integration of technology with education with focus on the use of active methods, E-learning, and distance learning. He joined the faculty in February, 2008.

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