The Dean of St. John of Damascus Institute of Theology Visits Romania
St. John of Damascus Institute of Theology- University of Balamand
The Dean of the St. John of Damascus Institute of Theology, Dr. Georges Nahas, visited Romania during the period of 13-19 October 2009, upon the invitation of Fr. Dr. Savva Viorel, the Dean of the Faculty of Theology, at the Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iaşi, Romania. The occasion of the invitation was the annual celebration of St. Paraskevi and the opening of the new academic year in Iaşi.
During the opening ceremonies of the new year, Father Viorel Sava asked Dr. Nahas to give the opening speech. Dr. Nahas relayed the best wishes of success of His Beatitude Patriarch Ignatius IV of Antioch and all the east. Also, Dr. Nahas emphasized the following points:
1- The need for establishing closer relations between the Orthodox Churches of Romania and Antioch, since they are linked by historical ties and shared concerns.
2- The need for cooperation between the Orthodox faculties of theology in the world in order to facilitate the exchange of professors and students, and work on plans for joint research activities.
3- The need to work on formulating a theological contemporary discourse that relates to the younger generations and their problems, in a way that the good news of salvation be transmitted to all.
In the occasion, Dr. Nahas, presented to His Eminence Metropolitan Theofan of Moldova and Bekovista, as a souvenir, the English version of Patriarch Ignatius’ book “Orthodoxy and the Issues of our Time”.
After the opening session, and during two days, Dr. Nahas met a number of seminary deans and professors, and discussed with them theological education and its future in the Orthodox world. It was agreed on some basic ideas to be pursued simultaneously.
In addition, Dr. Nahas visited a number of monasteries in the north of Romania and venerated the relics of the saints who bear witness in all of these areas to the strong faith of the Romanian people and their attachment to their Church.
Also, Dr.. Nahas met the Dean of the Faculty of Theology in Bucharest, and agreed to sign a cooperation agreement between Balamand and Bucharest theological institutions, in order to strengthen academic relations and exchange of pastoral experiences.
