Visit 
of the German Delegation 
from the
  Evangelical Church of Kurhessen Waldek 
to Balamand

 

From Friday March 8 to Tuesday March 12, 2002, Balamand was honored by the visit of a delegation from the Evangelical Church of Kurhessen Waldek (Germany).

The delegation was headed by His Eminence Bishop Emeritus Christian Zippert, Professor of Pastoral Theology at the University of Marburg. Members of the delegation were: Rev. Dr. Krestin Vogt, Rev. Dr. Wolfgang Hage, Rev. Georg Ander Molnar, Rev. Dr. Martin Luckhoff, and Rev. Dr. Georg Richter.

 Saturday, March 9, 2002

On Saturday, the Delegation toured the Monastery of Our Lady of Balamand and the University of Balamand.

Following their visit to the Oasis of Joy, (an institution for physically challenged youth belonging to the Archdiocese of Tripoli), the delegation paid a visit to His Eminence Metropolitan Elias (Kurban) of Tripoli. During their visit and lunch at the Archdiocese of Tripoli, members of the delegation discussed with Metropolitan Elias religious, national and social issues of Lebanon.

In the afternoon, the delegation held an "evangelical eucharistic service" at the Great Hall of Balamand Monastery.

The service was presided by His Eminence Bishop Christian Zippert, and was attended by Bishop Youhanna Yazigi, the Dean of the Institute of Theology and Abbot of Balamand Monastery, along with the Faculty, Staff, and Students of the Institute. Also a delegation from the German Evangelical Congregation in Beirut, with Faculty and Students from the Near East Theological School (NEST) came especially from Beirut for the occasion.

 
The Kiss of Peace

Following the service everyone was invited to a splendid cocktail organized by the monastery for this special occasion.

 

Bishop Zippert and Bishop Yazigi exchanged words of love and appreciation during the cocktail.

Evangelical Celebration

Sunday, March 10, 2002

On Sunday, the German delegation attended the Divine Liturgy at Our Lady of Balamand Church, presided by His Grace Bishop Youhanna, Abbot ot the Monastery and Dean of the Balamand Seminary. The Liturgy was followed by a lunch at the Seminary.

 

 
Visiting the Lebanese Cedars Mountain 

Monday, March 11, 2002

On Monday, the Institute organized a conference on "The Spiritual and Theological Significance of the Holy Liturgy for the Rum-Orthodox Church of Antioch and of the worship service for the Evangelical Church Respectively."

Both, His Eminence Bishop Christian Zippert and Metropolitan Saba (Isber), the Archbishop of Houran spoke about the liturgical tradition of their churches. The moderator of the conference was Dr. Tarek Mitri, Professor of Sociology at the Institute of Theology and Coordinator of Interreligious Relations and Dialogue World Council of Churches.

During lunch, Bishop Youhanna offered the German Delegation Members gifts and thanked them for their visit. In the afternoon, another conference was held in the presence of the German Evangelical Delegation.

The conference was given by four students from Balamand Theological Institute and four others from NEST. Discussions featured the modern methods of theological education and ways of relating theology to the parish.

Finally, the German Evangelical Delegation also visited Syria and met with His Beatitude Patriarch Ignatius IV.

Conference on Liturgy

Monday Lunch

A General Picture with the Students of the Insitute of Theology