SYRIA: Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch opens new Christian university in Damascus

By presidential decree, a new university of Christian theology was established in Damascus, Syria.

Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad decreed the establishment of the University of Christian Theology and Religious and Philosophical Studies, which will be operated by the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East.

The new university, based in Damascus, includes the Faculties of Christian Theology, Philosophical Studies and Comparative Religion, and Religious Studies and History of Religions, and the Institute of Ancient Languages.

The school can grant a bachelor’s degree from the three faculties, while the institute “provides professional language training in ancient languages to university students and others interested in deepening their studies in theology, religion, philosophy, and related historical studies.”

According to the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, the university “seeks to be a progressive intellectual centre for higher education that aims to help qualify researchers… and to prepare professors to be influential in their society in openness and to create scientific, intellectual dialogue based on analysis, synthesis, and the ability to debate and transfer knowledge to others with the aim of education and deepening respect for others’ beliefs.”

Meanwhile, Archbishop Ieronymos sent a message of solidarity to the suffering Christians of the Eastern Mediterranean country and called on international organisations and the international community to contribute effectively so that peace prevails in the region.

The message of Archbishop Ieronymos:

“The advance of extremist armed elements and the occupation of Aleppo puts at risk the inter-religious composition of the region’s population, which, among other things, has since ancient times had a Greek and Greek Orthodox population,” he stressed.

“Due to the many years of war and its tragic and terrifying consequences, there is now a risk of total elimination and disappearance of Greek Orthodoxy and Christianity from the wider region, with what this would inevitably entail for the future of the region itself.

“The Holy Church of Greece expresses its deepest concern for the developing situation in Syria and its sincere fraternal solidarity with His Holiness Brother, His Beatitude Patriarch of Antioch and All the East John X, and also with His Eminence the Metropolitan of Aleppo K. Ephraim and the long-suffering Greek Orthodox of Syria, as well as to the Brotherly Christian Primates of the Churches of Syria, but also to all those who are persecuted and in danger.

“We encourage the Greek Government, particularly the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to undertake diplomatic and other humanitarian initiatives to normalise the situation and ensure the presence of Syria’s Orthodox.

“We call on international organisations and the international community to contribute in every way and effectively to end the long and destructive conflict, to create peace and reconstruction in the region and to preserve its precious and unique inter-religious coexistence and diversity with mutual respect and cooperation.”

READ MORE: Turkey Blocks Netflix Series Amid Controversy Over Cyprus Invasion Portrayal.