Towards a Culture of Co-Existence in pluralistic Societies

At the invitation of Archbishop Mar Boulos Matar, and under the direction of Prof. Dietmar W. Winkler, the Pro Oriente Forum Syriacum met in November 2012 in Harissa, Lebanon. The working sessions included a Study Seminar devoted to reflection and discussion on the purpose and goals of ecumenical studies with the Churches of the Syriac tradition in the context of new political, religious, and ecumenical realities.
The Syrian Orthodox Metropolitan Mar Gregorios Yohanna Ibrahim travelled to Harissa under very difficult circumstances from Aleppo, which was at the time already largely encircled and increasingly isolated. Despite – indeed, because of – the war in Syria, he proposed “to do something for the culture of citizenship and co-existence”. The Forum Syriacum took up this suggestion and developed it further.
As a result, in 2013 the fourth Colloquium Syriacum, held in Vienna, addressed the theme “Towards a Culture of Co-Existence in Pluralistic Societies in the Middle East and in India”. Scholars and experts explored key aspects of a culture of co-existence, including citizenship and participation in public life, Church–State relations, and a critical engagement with fundamentalism. However, Mar Gregorios Yohanna Ibrahim was no longer able to take part in this Colloquium Syriacum. From the very beginning, he had been a driving force and a key figure behind the Syriac Dialogue. On April 22, 2013, he and the Greek Orthodox Archbishop of Aleppo, Boulos Yazigi, were abducted in al-Mansura while on their way to negotiations for the release of two priests kidnapped by ISIS. The driver of their car, a deacon, was shot dead, and Mar Gregorios has been missing ever since.

Program

Publication

Memories of Mar Gregorios Y. Ibrahim