With the blessings of His Beatitude Patriarch John X of Antioch and All the East, the Saint John of Damascus Institute of Theology organized an orientation ceremony for the newly enrolled seminarians (2018-2019). The ceremony took place on October 16, 2018, in the presence of Father Porphyrios Georgi, Dean of the Institute, Archimandrite Romanos Al-Hanat, Abbot of Our Lady of Balamand Patriarchal Monastery, Archimandrite Maxim Jamal, Director of Students Life, clergy, faculty members and the seminarians.
The students of each diocese introduced themselves through short sketches, videos, and songs. At the end, Fr. Porphyrios concluded the ceremony, wishing all the students a blessed and joyful year. He encouraged them to keep vigil and strive to grow in both spiritual and academic life, in order to be worthy of becoming soldiers in Christ’s Church.