Patriarch Ignatius Aphrem II Meets Suryoyo University Students in Lebanon

On October 25, 2014, His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II met with the Suryoyo University Students in Lebanon. The meeting took place in the patriarchal residence in Atchaneh and was attended by their Eminences: Mor Timotheos Aphrem Aboodi, Mor Philoxenus Matta Shemoun, Mor Theophilus Georges Saliba, Archbishop of Mount Lebanon and Tripoli, Mor Justinus Boulos Safar, Patriarchal Vicar in Zahleh and Beqaa, Mor Clemis Daniel Kourieh, Metropolitan of Beirut, Mor Chrysostomos Mikhael Shemoun, Director of the Patriarchal Benevolent Institutions in Atchaneh and Mor Timotheos Matthew, Patriarchal Secretary for Indian Affairs. The meeting was also attended by around 70 Syriac university students studying in the diverse universities and institutions in Lebanon.

His Holiness spoke about the role of youth in the church. He said: “we love to get to know the youth more, so that we learn more how you think and know better what we need in the realm of pastoral work”. He pointed out that the church is the balance between progress and tradition. The church regulates the speed of progress and its goal. Moreover, he spoke about how faith relates to science and explained that if science is not a means for man to reach God, then he will not succeed in reaching truth. He invited the participants to get to know our church history more and learn about the level of civilization and culture that our forefathers and saints reached. He encouraged the young university students to serve in the church and take part in the social activities so that their human experience gets more perfected. They will thus get a chance to practice the morals that they were taught in the church. He also listened to the programs that they are doing and guided them to have more activities which will create an atmosphere of communication and social interaction between them. His Holiness asked the young university students to use the Syriac language and learn it because it is a common element that unites them and makes them stronger.

After his talk, His Holiness answered the questions of the audience. He concluded the meeting with blessing prayers. He also asked the young university students to foster their spiritual lives and encouraged them to live a true Christian life.

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