On Sunday Morning December 2, 2018, His Beatitude Patriarch JOHN X, of Antioch and All the East presided over the Divine Liturgy for the feast of St. John of Damascus, Patron Saint of the Institute of Theology at the University of Balamand.
Concelebrating with His Beatitude were: His Grace Bishop Demetri (Charbak) of Banias, His Grace Bishop Gregorios (Khoury Abdullah) of the Emirates, Archimandrite Jack El-Khoury, Metropolitan-elect of Buenos Aires and all Argentine, Archimandrite Romanos Al-Hannat, Abbot of Our Lady of Balamand Patriarchal Monastery, Fr. Porphyrios Georgi, Dean of the Institute of Theology, and other clergy.
In his address, His Beatitude Patriarch JOHN X congratulated the faithful and the employees of the Balamandian institutions, especially Dr. Elias Warrak, President of the University of Balamand and Fr. Porphyrios Georgi, Dean of the Institute on the feast of his Patron Saint, St Porphyrios of Kafsokalivia.
After the Divine Liturgy, His Beatitude led the sixth Annual Memorial Service for the repose of the Thrice Blessed Patriarch Ignatius IV.
At the end, the Balamand family gathered in a lunch hosted at the St. John of Damascus Institute of Theology, with the blessing and presence of His Beatitude.
