Ms. Souraya BECHEALANY
Faculty of Religious Studies
Higher Institute of Religious Studies
Professor
(+961) 1 421 000 ext 5928 souraya.bechealany@usj.edu.lb
Professor Researcher at Faculty of Religious Sciences (FSR), Saint-Joseph University of Beirut (USJ). Director of the Center for Religious Studies Research, FSR-USJ. Teaching Research areas: Contextual theology, the Church Mission in the Middle East. Ecumenism, theological dialogue among the Churches. Vocation, mission of Women in the Church Society | Member of the Scientific Committee, Institut Chrétiens d’Orient, Paris. Member of the Scientific Committee of IDEES, at Holy Spirit University of Kaslik, Lebanon. Member of the Joint Commission for the Theological Dialogue between the Catholic Church the Orthodox Oriental Churches. Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity, Vatican. Member of the Joint Working Group between the Catholic Church the World Council of Churches. Member of the Forum Syriacum, Pro-Oriente Foundation, Vienna. Founding member Secretary of the Jean Corbon Foundation, Lebanon | Secretary General, Middle East Council of Churches (2018-2020). Member of the Board of Trustees, Embrace the Middle East Foundation, London (2021-2023).
+ Education
| Degrees | University | Country | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Doctorate in Religious Studies | Saint Joseph University of Beirut | Lebanon | 2013 |
| Doctorate in Theology | Centre Sèvres – Facultés jésuites de Paris | France | 2013 |
| Bachelor in Sociology | Saint Joseph University of Beirut | Lebanon | 2000 |
| Master in Religious Studies | Saint Joseph University of Beirut | Lebanon | 1995 |
+ Teaching at USJ
.
The Church: Mystery, People, Institution
.
The Theology of Liturgy
.
Sacraments of Initiation
.
Ecumenism, the Churches in the Middle East
.
Eastern Churches: Vocation mission
.
Ecumenical Theology
.
Reading theological texts
.
Contemporary theological streams
.
Women in Church, Society
+ Professionnal experience outside USJ
| Professional Experience | Organization | Start date | End date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Member of the Joint Working Group between the Catholic Church and the World Council of Churches | Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity | 01/02/2025 | 31/12/2030 |
| Member of the Joint Commission of the Theological Dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Oriental Churches | Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity | 01/01/2024 | 31/12/2029 |
| Member of the Syriacum Forum | Pro Oriente Foundation | 01/01/2023 | 31/12/2027 |
| Secretary General | Middle East Council of Churches | 01/01/2018 | 30/09/2020 |
| Responsible for Pastoral and Catechism | College Notre Dame de Nazareth | 01/09/1994 | 31/07/2012 |
+ Expertise field
Art, Humanities, Religious Sciences
+ Research topics
.
Contextual Theology, Mission of the Church in the Middle East
.
Vocation, Mission of Women in the Church, Society
.
Theological dialogue among the Churches
+ Publications and communications
- BECHEALANY Souraya, “The synodality in the Middle East”, in Institute for Ecumenical Studies of the Angelicum Pro Oriente Foundation (Ed.), Listening to the East. Synodality in eastern oriental orthodox Church Tradition, Libreria Editria Vaticana, Vatican, 2023, p. 603-612.
- BECHEALANY Souraya, MZAWAK ABBOUD Mirna, “‘The Word became flesh pitched his tent among us’ (John 1:14). The continental synodal Assembly in the Middle East”, in WIJLENS Myriam, TRIMANA Vimal (Ed.), The People of God have spoken. The continental ecclesial Assemblies within the Synod on synodality, Columba books, Dublin, 2023, p. 238-252.
Participate in the direction, drafting of ecclesial documents (2021-2023):
- We Choose Abundant Life. Christians in the Middle East: Towards Renewed Theological, Social, Political Choices, Beirut, September 2021 (edited in 6 languages : Arabic, English, French, German, Italian, Deutch) | https://www.wechooseabundantlife.com.
- Council of the Oriental Patriarchs, Continental Report of the Middle East (Synod on Synodality), Beirut, March 2023 (edited in 3 languages: Arabic, English, French)| https://www.synod.va/content/dam/synod/common/phases/continental-stage/final_document/en-newdoc/Middle-East-EN.pdf.
- The Vocation Mission of Women in the Economy of God, the life of the Church, Society, A Foundational Document for the Synodal Journey in the Antiochene Syriac Maronite Church, September 2023 (edited in 3 languages: Arabic, English French).