As part of the celebrations marking the 325th Jubilee of the Antonine Maronite Order (OAM), Antonine University (UA) organized a scholarly seminar dedicated to exploring the history, identity, and enduring mission of the Antonine Maronite monastic tradition.
Held on January 13, 2026, at the Hadat–Baabda Campus, the seminar centered on the publication “Oriental Authenticity and Creative Dynamism: Studies in the History of the Antonine Maronite Order.” It brought together clergy, academics, researchers, and members of the university community for an evening of reflection, dialogue, and shared commemoration.
The event took place under the patronage of Antonine University and its Chancellor, Most Reverend Abbot Joseph Bou Raad, Superior General of the OAM, affirming the longstanding historical, spiritual, and educational ties that unite the University with its founding monastic heritage.
The Rector’s Address: Authenticity and Renewal
In his opening address, Reverend Fr. Michel Saghbiny, Rector of UA, framed the 325th Jubilee as a moment that goes beyond commemoration, describing it as “not merely numbers recorded in history books,” but rather “a living journey of prayer, work, and witness to truth in life and in education—in society and in the East as well as in the West.”
Reflecting on the book’s central theme, he clarified that Oriental authenticity does not imply nostalgia or retreat into the past. Instead, it reflects an identity “drawn from a local Syriac monastic heritage and the spirituality of an Egyptian saint,” firmly rooted in belonging to a people and a land. Addressing the notion of creative dynamism, he stressed that renewal is essential to continuity, noting that “a monastic order that does not renew itself grows old, just as a university that does not innovate fades away.” He concluded by describing the Jubilee as “a moment of conscience—fidelity to the past, commitment to the present, and vision for the future.”
A Jubilee Publication: History Read With Clarity and Purpose
At the heart of the seminar was the presentation of the Jubilee publication “Oriental Authenticity and Creative Dynamism: Studies in the History of the Antonine Maronite Order,” issued by Antonine University Press. Supervised by Reverend Fr. Dr. Sarkis El Taber, OAM, the volume brings together original academic studies by clerics and researchers, offering a documented and analytical reading of the historical journey of the Antonine Order across different periods and contexts.
The publication adopts a rigorous methodological approach based on documentation, critical analysis, and historical verification. Rather than presenting a purely celebratory narrative, it examines foundational moments, monastic geography, ecclesial relationships, and the Order’s interaction with political, social, and cultural realities in Lebanon. History is thus approached as a living process—one shaped by challenges, reforms, and continuous discernment— revealing the dynamic nature of Antonine identity.
Positioned between fidelity to Eastern monastic roots and openness to renewal, the book reflects the Jubilee’s deeper intent: not only to commemorate the past, but to question it, understand it, and learn from it. In doing so, the publication transforms memory into responsibility, inviting readers to engage with history as a source of insight, continuity, and vision for the future.
Words of the Superior General: Memory, Inquiry, and Continuity
In his address, Most Reverend Abbot Joseph Bou Raad described the publication as “the birth of a unique and valuable work in the history and geography of our Order,” noting that it offers “a first reading among many new readings” of key moments and paths in the Antonine experience. He emphasized that the book was conceived not as a final word, but as “a beginning, not an ending,” capable of generating deeper inquiry and more precise questions.
Abbot Bou Raad explained that the project was driven by a desire to rediscover the founders, “because they are the origin and the foundation,” and to reconcile with the past in order to remain rooted in identity and open to the future. He concluded by describing the publication as a lasting Jubilee legacy for coming generations—one that honors the fathers by restoring their humanity rather than idealizing it—and expressed his gratitude to the contributors and to Antonine University, which he praised as “the heir to the Antonine cultural and educational heritage.”
Academic Contributions and Dialogue
The seminar featured interventions by Dr. Daad Bou Malhab Atallah, Dr. Georges Charaf, and Reverend Fr. Prof. Georges Hobeika, who offered complementary scholarly readings of the book’s chapters. Their contributions examined key moments in the history of the Antonine Maronite Order, its intellectual and pastoral evolution, and its capacity to creatively respond to historical challenges while remaining faithful to its foundational spirit.
The session was introduced and coordinated by Dr. Elias El-Kattar, who presented the speakers and set the framework for the seminar.
Scholarship at the Service of Heritage and the Future
Beyond its academic scope, the seminar affirmed the role of historical research as an act of memory, responsibility, and projection toward the future. As emphasized throughout the event, the Jubilee constitutes a moment of collective reflection—one that calls for fidelity to the past, commitment in the present, and vision for what lies ahead.
The seminar concluded with a reception held in celebration of the Jubilee, offering participants an opportunity for informal exchange and shared fellowship.
Through initiatives such as this seminar, Antonine University continues to affirm its role as a space where heritage is preserved, critically examined, and creatively reimagined, ensuring that the legacy of the Antonine Maronite Order remains a living force in the service of education, culture, and society.