Patriarch’s Message

With profound gratitude to Almighty God, we welcome you today to the opening of the International Orthodox University of the Baptism Site, here in the Baptism Site in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. This long-awaited day is a great occasion for joy and gratitude.

The importance of establishing a leading new academic institution for the Orthodox world is immeasurable, especially at a time when the Church faces both fundamental challenges and pressing opportunities. We know that even in difficult times, the Church’s mission is called to move forward with unwavering determination. This university represents a new and essential step in supporting a vibrant, steadfast, and forward-looking Orthodox Church. We look forward to welcoming students from Jordan, the region, and the world, from diverse backgrounds and disciplines, along with a distinguished faculty of scholars and researchers from around the globe, thus enriching the flourishing educational environment in our beloved Kingdom, the blessed land of Jordan.

We are delighted that the main campus of this new university is situated on this sacred and historic site, the site of the Baptism of our Lord Jesus Christ. Here, we received the divine revelation of the Holy Trinity, which forms the core of the Christian understanding of the one God. Today, an academic institution dedicated to the pursuit of religious truth in its fullness is established. This university honors the sanctity of this site and is in harmony with its status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

It is also of paramount importance that this new Orthodox university is being established in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. Jordan is a beacon of light for Christians in the Middle East, and the Hashemite custodianship of the Islamic and Christian holy sites in the Holy Land remains a cornerstone in preserving the diverse cultural and religious fabric of our region. We also recognize with deep gratitude that without His Majesty’s tireless efforts and unwavering vision, we would not have witnessed so many of the remarkable achievements in the field of interfaith dialogue and human relations, which have become a hallmark not only of Jordanian society but also of the extensive international initiatives led by the Hashemite family.

Your Majesty,
it is no exaggeration to say before this distinguished gathering that you are the protector of the Christian community in the Middle East.

Although this university is rooted in a firmly established Orthodox identity, it is not an institution closed in on itself. The Jordanian context, embodied by His Majesty’s genuine and sincere commitment to interfaith dialogue and shared human prosperity, and by the pioneering initiatives launched by your leadership—most notably the Amman Message, the Common Word Initiative, and the World Interfaith Harmony Week—grants this university a unique ability to instill the spirit and culture of dialogue in all those who come here seeking knowledge.

In this intellectual and spiritual space, where research is integrated with intellectual, spiritual, and moral development, we remember that this institution is not merely a theological college, but a university of the humanities in the broadest sense, where students receive a comprehensive classical education across various fields of human knowledge.

English will be the primary language of instruction, opening the university’s doors to students from around the world, with a clear focus on philosophy and Greek, the language of the Holy Bible. All international students will also receive instruction in Arabic, gaining insight into the depth of Arab culture and its historical and spiritual influence on Christianity in this region. The university will also offer programs in Russian, Aramaic, and other languages.

This academic institution, which is being inaugurated today in your esteemed presence, will offer a range of academic programs rooted in the rich wellspring of tradition, presented with a contemporary academic vision in both content and teaching methods.

In addition to academic programs leading to recognized degrees and specialized scientific research, the university will launch two innovative international programs for the first time.

The first program, titled “Great Books,” is dedicated to the in-depth and systematic study of the most prominent books produced by human civilization throughout history.

The second program is a spiritual retreat, carefully designed to take place in this very location, across the Jordan River, where Jesus Christ spent his private spiritual retreat. Once a year, as part of their academic journey and under the supervision of the faculty, students will spend a period of time in contemplation, prayer, and inner peace, away from the hustle and bustle of daily life, in the heart of the same wilderness where Jesus Christ walked and stayed for forty days after his baptism by John the Baptist.

The university is also committed to ensuring that its administrative and academic bodies reflect the human diversity we experience, including representatives from various Christian denominations and different religious traditions. This is the right path in our contemporary world, where we are all called to grow in awareness, respect, and mutual appreciation.

This is undoubtedly a truly historic moment. Many of the visions and goals that this project has embodied over the years are now being realized for the first time. In the history of the Orthodox world, this project represents a unique and unprecedented initiative.

This university stands today as a clear call for the holistic development of the individual, so that qualified leaders and active members of society may emerge, recognizing that despite our differences, we all belong to one human family and share a common human destiny. Through them, we will learn how to live together with greater wisdom, awareness, and responsibility.

This occasion cannot pass without expressing to His Majesty our profound gratitude for your unwavering support, continuous encouragement, and gracious guidance. Without your commitment to this project, this university would not exist.

We also extend our sincere thanks to all those whose generosity has made this project possible, especially Mr. Mark Voloshin, Mr. Samer Khoury, and Mr. Michel El-Sayegh.

We ask Almighty God to bless this new mission and grant us the wisdom and strength to complete this blessed project and achieve its goals.

Thank you.