Bonner Querschnitte 35/2016 Ausgabe 430 (eng)

(Bonn, 25.07.2016) While receiving his ThD-degree from the hands of Thomas Schirrmacher Dr Behnan Konutgan, BA, MA, ThD, President of Martin Bucer Seminary Turkey, was surprised by being installed as honorary life member of the Royal Ghassanid Academy of Arts and Science (Jordan). The present head of the royal house, His Imperial and Royal Highness Prince Gharios El Chemor of Ghassan Al-Nu’man VIII, personally handed over the bull and read aloud especially that FDR Konutgan receives this merit “for his work on the revision of the Peshitta (Syriac Bible Translation) and his research on the church history of Anatolia”.

The ceremony took place in the official residence of Filüksinos Yusuf Çetin, Metropolitan of the Syrian Orthodox Church of Istanbul and Ankara and Patriarchal Vicar since 1986. Born in the Tur Abdin, he started his spiritual career in the Mor Gabriel Monastery. His Eminence did not only gave his blessings, but in a moving speech thanked Dr Konutgan both for his research towards preserving the faith, language and culture of his own heritage as well as connecting the church to evangelical community worldwide towards advocacy for discriminated and persecuted Christian.

To honor Dr Konutgan, Thomas Schirrmacher, Prinz Gharios and Martin Warneck accompanied him to courtesy visits to the Mufti of Istanbul, Prof. Dr. Rahmi Yaran, to Father Drtad Uzunyan, Secretary of the Armenian Patriarchate, and to His All Holiness, the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and informed them about Konutgan’s achievements.

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·        Photo 1: Presentation of the doctoral diploma

·        Photo 2: HIRH Prince Gharios reads the bull

·        Photo 3: Presentation of the bull

·        Photo 4: At the end of the ceremony: from left: the secretary of the Metropolitan, HIRH Prince Gharios, Metropolitan Çetin, Thomas Schirrmacher, Behnan Konutgan

·        Photo 5: Visiting the Mufti of Istanbul

·        Photo 6: Visiting the General Secretary of the Arminian Patriarchate

·        Photo 7: Visiting the Ecumenical Patriarch, from left: The orthodox Archbishop of France, Thomas Schirrmacher, HIRH Prince Gharios, Behnan Konutgan, the Ecumenical Patriarch

·        Photo 8: Behnan Konutgan and the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew