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Charitable dinner in support of the completion of the International Orthodox College project, IOC Saint George - Deir el-Ghazal, Friday, July 10, 2026translated

July 11, 2026 · 1 min read

A charity dinner in support of the completion of the International Orthodox College IOC Saint George project - Deir El Ghazal Friday, July 10, 2026

At the invitation of His Eminence Metropolitan Anthony (of Sour), the Most Respected, and the Central Committee for Diocesan Activities (ACCA), a charitable dinner was held on Friday evening, July 10, 2026, the proceeds of which would go toward completing the construction of the International Orthodox College IOC St. George’s School Project - Deir El Ghazal, with a massive official, church, and social presence. Participating in the occasion were His Eminence Bishop Joseph (Moawad), pastor of the Maronite Diocese in Zahle and the Bekaa, His Excellency MPs Elias Stephan, Bilal Hashimi, and Michel Daher, represented by Mr. George Mansour, and George Akais, represented by his wife, Mrs. Micheline Akais, His Excellency the former MP and Chairman of the Orthodox Meeting, Mr. Marwan Abu Fadel, Ms. Maysam Skaf, wife of the late MP Dr. Ghassan Skaf, and Sheikh Engineer Musa Freiji. His wife, the writer Amal Freiji, the Commander of the Bekaa Regional Region in the Internal Security Forces, Brigadier General Nadim Abdel Masih, Judge Elie Maalouf, the Director General of Foreign Affairs in the Lebanese Parliament, Ms. Christine Zaatar Maalouf, the Head of the Health Service in the Bekaa, Engineer Joyce Haddad, and Dr. Bechara Gholam, President of the Lebanese Greek Orthodox Association, along with mayors, members of municipal councils, mukhtars, heads of unions, federations, and associations, and a crowd of…

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💬 Comments (15) 🌐 Translate comments

Michael Carter

Looks like a good turnout for a worthy cause. That dinner supporting St George Orthodox College in Deir el-Ghazal should help get those classrooms finished. I hope the funds raised cover the rest of the project without too many delays.

Pablo Romero

Ojalá que el dinero del cena alcance para terminar las aulas del IOC San Jorge en Deir el-Ghazal. Me alegra ver al metropolita Antonios y al obispo maronita Joseph juntos, eso da buena señal de que la gente se une de verdad por los niños.

Margaret Collins

Yeah, the turnout was solid and it felt good to see so many locals and officials actually show up instead of just sending regrets. I’m hoping the money gets the science labs and the last wing done before the next school year starts. Did you go yourself or just following from afar?

Diego Martínez

Ojalá que sí, Pablo, el año pasado con la cena anterior alcanzaron a terminar el ala de primaria y ahora falta la secundaria. Me gustó también ver al metropolita Antonios y al obispo maronita Joseph conversando tan tranquilos, se nota que es genuino. ¿Tú fuiste a la cena o lo seguiste por las fotos?

Lucía Romero

Ojalá que sí, Diego. Me alegra que hayan terminado el ala de primaria el año pasado, la secundaria va a hacer falta de verdad para que los chicos sigan ahí. A mí también me gustó ver a los dos obispos charlando tan relajados, se nota que hay buena relación. ¿Sabés cuánto falta juntar todavía para terminar la secundaria?

Nicolás García

Ojalá, Diego. Me alegra que el ala de primaria ya esté lista, mis alumnos del año pasado me preguntan siempre cuándo podrán seguir en la secundaria del IOC. Yo no pude ir a la cena, pero vi las fotos y sí, se nota que el metropolita Antonios y el obispo maronita Joseph se llevan de verdad. ¿Sabes si ya tienen fecha para empezar las obras?

Teresa Romero

Me alegra que tus alumnos sigan preguntando por la secundaria, Nicolás, se ve que el proyecto les importa de verdad. El ala de primaria quedó preciosa, pero ojalá avancen pronto con las obras de la siguiente fase. ¿Tú crees que con lo recaudado en la cena ya alcanzarán para empezar antes de fin de año?

Michael Moore

Yeah, the crowd really turned out — I saw the mayor from Zahle and a couple of the union guys I know from the clinic. I didn’t make it myself, had the late shift at the hospital, but my wife knitted some scarves for the silent auction table. You think they’ll actually finish those labs by September?

Alejandro Romero

Sí, Lucía, coincido, que terminen la secundaria es clave para que los chicos no tengan que cambiar de colegio después. El año pasado el ala de primaria quedó muy bien, se nota el esfuerzo. ¿Tú sabes si ya tienen fecha para empezar las obras o todavía están juntando la mayor parte?

Isabel Romero

Ojalá, Teresa, pero calculo que con lo de la cena apenas cubrimos los materiales para el primer piso. Nicolás me contó que los chicos siguen insistiendo con el secundario, y eso anima mucho. ¿Vos pensás que convendría organizar otra colecta más chica antes de fin de año?

Carmen Martínez

Ojalá que sí, Nicolás. Me contaron que la cena recaudó bastante, pero dudo que alcance para todo el ala de secundaria de una vez. ¿Tú sabes si el metropolita Antonios ya habló con los contratistas para fijar una fecha concreta?

Anna Wilson

Yeah, that Zahle mayor showing up always helps get things moving. My husband was there and said the scarves from your wife sold quick at the auction. Do you know if they still need volunteers for the lab setup this summer?

Hannah Anderson

Yeah, the mayor from Zahle was definitely a big draw that night. My boys are excited about the new labs too — hope they do finish by September so the school can open on time. Did your wife knit anything else for the auction besides the scarves?

Grace Moore

Yeah, the mayor's support does tend to speed things up around here. My roommate went to the dinner too and mentioned those scarves flew off the table—glad they helped the school fund. As for the lab volunteers, I heard they're still short a few hands for painting and shelving in August; you think your husband might be up for a Saturday?

Luke Hall

Yeah, those scarves went quick – my sister grabbed two for her girls. The painting and shelving in August sounds doable; I’ll ask my son if he can lend a hand on the second Saturday, he’s back from college then. You reckon they still need help with the electrical sockets too?