Antioch Syrian University of the Syriac Orthodox Church Inaugurated

His Holiness Mor Ignatius Aphrem II – (Patriarch on the Apostolic Throne of St.Peter in Antioch and All-East & Primate of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church) inaugurated the Antioch Syrian University (ASU). The opening ceremony was held in the presence of His Excellency Dr. Atef Al-Naddaf, Minister of Higher Education in Syria, Christian Prelates, students and a large number of faithful at Maarat Saydnaya.

The opening of the Antioch Syrian University has become a new milestone in the modern history of the ancient Syriac Orthodox Church.

In his speech, Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem commented that –“Syriacs had a head start in the establishment of schools and the educational facilities in the pre-Christian era. Each monastery became a center of knowledge, especially as it was our parents who developed the first alphabet. Thus, universities in many historical Syriac cities were established to spread knowledge, such as the universities of Nisibin, Edessa, Qinnshrin , nd Antioch”. He noted that “Antioch was the capital of Syria in the Roman era, but has become a spiritual capital for all the Christians of the Orient”; he added, “we follow the footsteps of our Church fathers in opening ASU, so that we raise again the flame of higher education.”

Presently, the University offers programs in Engineering, Economics, Law, Literature, basic Science, Dentistry and Pharmacy. The University hopes to expand its offering as well as to establish tie-ups and exchange programs with leading Universities and academies.

Source: OCP