Syria establishes first University for Christian Theology and Religious Studies

DARAMSUQ — Head of the Syrian Regime, Bashar al-Assad approved the establishment of a private Christian university named the “University of Christian Theology, Religious, and Philosophical Studies.”

Owned by the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and the Rest of the Levant, the university aims to serve as an advanced intellectual hub for higher education in theology, religion, and philosophy.

According to the law, the university will consist of four academic units: 1) College of Christian Theology, 2) College of Philosophical Studies and Comparative Religion, 3) Faculty of Religious Studies and History of Religions, and 4) Institute of Ancient Languages.

The university’s mission includes training researchers in theology, religious history, philosophical studies, and comparative religion. It also seeks to prepare professors capable of fostering intellectual and scientific dialogue, promoting respect for diverse beliefs, and disseminating knowledge for education and cultural understanding.

The university will initially offer Bachelor’s degrees in Christian Theology, Philosophical Studies and Comparative Religion, and Religious Studies and History of Religions. The law also allows for the potential introduction of postgraduate programs, including Master’s and Doctorate degrees, pending approval by the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research based on recommendations from the University Council and the Higher Education Council.