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THE VISION AND ROLE OF THE INSTITUTE Thirty-five years have elapsed since the foundation of St. John of Damascus Institute of Theology, and the Antiochian Church still senses it will retain an important role in the immediate and distant future. Nevertheless, during the 35 years following its foundation, Antioch and its environment witnessed several new changes. It also witnessed the establishment of The University of Balamand, one of the pillars of which is the Institute. All newly emerging circumstances and facts have corroborated the unequaled role that the Institute may play primarily in Antioch, as well as in the Orthodox world and university life. In the Institute, students are qualified in such a way that they could one day assume the responsibility for pastoral work, in its widest and most comprehensive meaning since it encompasses the responsibility of faith, service of whatever kind, and the responsibility for witnessing to the whole world. Given the developments which ushered in the present century, the Institute has been invited to adopt special programs linking together science, thought, and different service needs. In the Institute, the Antiochian leaders become acquainted with each other, interact, and combine their abilities. Moreover, they are invited to show the unity of the Church through the diversity and complementarity of their different talents. The intention of this mutual benefit is to promote innovation and to approach new ecclesiastical events with a creative and open spirit. The Institute is also in charge of making its students aware of the role of the Antiochian Church in the Orthodox world. This role has characterized Antioch for centuries at the level of theological thought as well as Church relations. This awareness of the Antiochian distinctiveness constitutes an integral part of the Institute’s vision of itself within the structure of theological institutes. The Institute inspires the university and constitutes an academic partner therein. In fact, the Institute can play a crucial role in the university, deeply rooted in oriental theology. It is invited to give to all university curricula their own special flavor. For this reason, the Institute is called upon to play, in the university, the role of the interlocutor who takes different concerns and tries to deal with them, follows up and examines the latest developments, listens to questions, and endeavors to answer them adequately. Since oriental theology is a theology of incarnation, it shall incorporate scientific and technical requirements and shed light upon their humanist dimension, preventing knowledge from masking its basic role in the development and service of mankind. Thus, the Institutes’ presence in the university accompanies the faculties’ academic activities to maintain a humanistic approach to curricula. The Institute’s presence is also necessary in terms of interaction with the academic environment, for teachers and students alike. Witness of incarnate thought cannot be right unless it is actively present, showing both love and openness. Moreover, church followers expect the Institute to be a place where original thinking deals openly with the challenges of the modern world. It is also expected to become a space of interaction for them, whatever may be their field of specialization, age, and background, so that through them, the Church may have a special presence in the world. This goal can be achieved through targeted activities, seminars, and conferences organized by the Institute itself with the participation of other university departments in order to enhance its testimonial role. Today’s world is loaded with newness that challenges theological thinking in a positive way. Therefore, intellectual innovation is required, exactly as it was in the days of the great Fathers throughout Church history. The Institute is called upon to be the heart of the theological movement that is adapting to our present era and aiming to sanctify the world in its entirety.
MESSAGE FROM THE DEAN With love, humility and openness, the Church lives in a world witness to its faith, serving mankind and announcing God’s will in His creation. The Church is fully conscious that its presence in the various aspects of life necessitates that it be acquainted with the needs and ambitions of its environment, so that its activities become more targeted and adequate. This “adaptation” to the development of the world, is crucial for the adjustment of the Church’s service to the needs of society. In this context, the role of the St. John of Damascus Institute of Theology is an integral part of Antioch’s vision of its role in the wider Orthodox Church in general, and in its own society in particular. The Institute aspires to the future of a witnessing and active Antioch. For this very reason, it aims at being a workshop which goes beyond mere theological studies in their narrow meaning, by reaching to the ecclesiastical work as a whole. Thus, the Institute represents: 1. A nursery of Church leaders, being the space from which those who will one day be responsible for the pastoralship in its widest and most comprehensive form will earn their qualifications. The pastoral responsibility includes the responsibility of faith, the service, and the responsibility of witness. Leaders graduate from this Institute to work in the bishoprics spread all over the world, carrying the Antiochian faith. 2. A communication link among Antiochian bishoprics, both at home and overseas, where Antiochian human forces get to know each other, interact, merge and strive to show the Church’s unity through the diversity and integrity of its members’ skills. 3. A sanctuary for the faithful in all that is related to orthodox witness in today’s world, because the faithful expect an institute to be a space where they can seek unique views that deal openly with the challenges of the modern world. It is a place where followers of various denominations can interact, allowing the Church to strengthen its presence in the world. 4. A space for creativity and innovation in all that is related to the ecclesiastical life, where one can search for the best means of communication between pastors and Church youth and elders, as well as between the different activities and services sponsored or offered by the Church. 5. The gate of Antioch through which discussion with other orthodox Churches, and with religious thought in general (be they Christian or not), happens. To disdain fanaticism and religious propaganda is not possible without setting a framework of constructive dialogue in a scholarly institution dedicated to ensuring a composed and objective discussion. Together, these issues represent the integral whole which characterizes the Institute, with the blessing of his Beatitude and of the members of the Synod, and with the support of the different faculties of the University of Balamand. Within the framework of this general conception, the Institute adopts yearly plans that allow it to develop its performance in response to the requirements of its environment. With the resources granted to it by God, the Institute aims at implementing what has been entrusted to it, putting its hope in Him, fully aware that “Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it” (Psalm 127:1). Georges N. Nahas, Balamand, Annunciation Day 2007
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HISTORY of ST JOHN OF DAMASCUS INSTITUTE OF THEOLOGY The name of St. John of Damascus Institute of Theology is connected with the famous Balamand Monastery off the Dormition of Our Lady the Virgin Mary. The Institute is the culmination of endeavors taken in the field of religious education in the monastery. In 1832, Archimandrite Athanasius Kaseer of Damascus established the first clerical school at Balamand, under the auspices of the Antiochian Patriarch Methodius, and in response to the needs of the Antiochian Church. But it was not long before the school closed, in 1840. During the years it was open, Arabic, Church Music, Greek, Dogmatics and Practical Ethics were taught. The school reopened after the election of Patriarch Malatius II Dumani. The new Patriarch commissioned the bishop of Tripoli Gregorius (Haddad), who later was elected patriarch, to supervise it. Mr. Ghattas Kandalaft was appointed headmaster. Many teachers, reknown for their culture and piety, taught in the school. The most prominent of them were Jirjis Hammam, Najeeb Mishriq, Jirji Shaheen Atiyah and Dahir Khayrallah. Subjects taught during that period were Arabic, Greek, Russian, Turkish, Mathematics, Geography, History, Science, Exegesis, Homeletics, Church Music and Rhetorics. The school closed at the outbreak of World War I in 1914, but resumed its activities minimally in the interwar period until it was renovated following the election of Patriarch Alexandros III (Tahhan). In 1962, Patriarch Theodosius VI (Abu Rjayly) entrusted Bishop Ignatius (Hazim), the present Patriarch, to administer the school. The standard of education was improved and the students, whose numbers had doubled, were eligible for the Lebanese Baccalaureate Part II. The need for a theological institute meeting university standards was widely felt in order to promote the training of clergy, teachers and religious educators. Metropolitan Anthony (Basheer) of blessed memory, the head of the Antiochian archdiocese in North America, assumed the responsibility of enabling his mother church to establish a higher institute of theology, a thousand years after the closure of the first school of Antioch. In 1965, during the general convention of the archdiocese of New York and North America, it was decided to establish an institute of theology on the hill of Balamand, which occupied a privileged place in the heart of every Antiochian Orthodox. A Board of Trustees was constituted with the following members: Metropolitan Anthony of New York and North America, Metropolitan Boulos (Khoury) of Sidon and Tyr, Metropolitan Ignatius (Huraykah) of Hama, Metropolitan Elias (Muawad) of Aleppo, Metropolitan Elias (Qurban) of Tripoli, Bishop Ignatius (Hazim) (now H. B. the Patriarch), Dr. Constatine Zurayq, Mr. Albert Lahham, Mr. Anis Shubat, Mr. Raymond Rizk, Mr. Andre Geha, Dr. Iskandar Basheer, Mr. Nicholas Khayr, Dr. Munir Atiyah and Mr. Alexis Butros. After the death of Metropolitan Basheer, his successor Metropolitan Philip (Saliba) was appointed to the Board, and upon the death of Metropolitan Huraykah of Hama, Metropolitan George (Khodr) of Byblos and Botrys replaced him on the Board. On August 10, 1966, the Antiochian Holy Synod decided to lay the corner stone of the Institute. This was done by Patriarch Theodosius VI of blessed memory on August 15. Metropolitan Philip pledged to carry out the will of his predecessor and complete the construction of the Institute. After the election of Patriarch Elias IV, the Board of Trustees was made up of the following members: Metropolitan Elias (Qurban) of Tripoli, Metropolitan Ignatius (Hazim) of Lattakia, Metropolitan George (Khodr) of Byblos and Botrys, Mr. Munir Berbari, Mr. Kamal Rafqa, Mr. Anis Shubat, Dr. Karim Azkoul, Prof. Raymond Ghusn, Dr. Lutfallah Milki, Dr. Costy Bendaly, Mr. Ghassan Tueini, Dr. Constantine Zurayq, Dr. Munir Atiyah, Mr. Albert Lahham and Mr. Adib Nassur. The Institute was established in 1970 under the leadership of Metropolitan Ignatius of Lattakia. On October 7, 1971, it was officially inaugurated by Patriarch Elias IV in the presence of the President of Lebanon, members of the Holy Synod, government officials and a large number of Orthodox faithful. During the academic year 1972-1973 the Dean of the Institute was Archimandrite Penteleymon Rodopoulos (Later Metropolitan of Tiroleyi and Syrandion), professor of Canon Law at the University of Salonika – Greece. A commencement for the first graduates of the Institute was held on the feast day of the Patron Saint of the Institute in 1974. On February 26, 1975, the President of the Lebanese Republic issued Decree No. 9764 licensing the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and all the East to establish an Institute of Higher Learning in Orthodox Theology at Balamand. However, the outbreak of the war in Lebanon forced the administration to transfer its students to Salonika to complete their studies. In the year 1978, a Synodal Commission was appointed to supervise the Institute. It consisted of Metropolitans Elias (Qurban) of Tripoli, Alexis (Abdulkarim) of Homs and George (Khodr) of Byblos and Botrys. Deacon Michel Kyriacos (now Archimandrite Aphram, Hygoumen of Archangel Michel Monastery-Beqaata) was appointed director. In 1980, Fr. Michel Najm became Dean of the Institute. On March 8, 1984, during the meeting of the Holy Synod in the Institute itself, a new Synodical Commission was formed. It comprised Metropolitan Constantine (Papasstephano) of Baghdad, Metropolitan Elias (Audeh) of Beirut and Metropolitan Boulos (Bendaly) of Akkar. In 1986, Metropolitan Constantine took upon himself the administration of the Institute. In the academic year 1987-1988, Archimandrite Youhanna Yazigi (now Metropolitan of West and Middle Europe) became Dean of the Institute. On June 4, 1988, and by virtue of the Decree No. 4885 issued by the President of the Lebanese Republic, St. John of Damascus Institute of Theology became one of the three faculties which constituted the University of Balamand. After it became one of the most important faculties of the University of Balamand, the responsibilities of the dean were assumed by Bishop Georges Abou Zakhm (now Metropolitan of Homs), later Bishop Boulos Yazigi (now Metropolitan of Aleppo), then Bishop Youhanna Yazigi for a second term. Since 2005, Dr. Georges Nahas, vice-president of the University of Balamand, is the dean of the Institute. At the moment, the Institute is striving to become an integral part of the University of Balamand, and to open up to its wider environment so that it can form a presence in the larger Antiochian and Church communities. It is also trying to preserve its characteristic as a milieu for the revival of the Antiochian heritage, education, and theological teaching and research in the East. |
