joseph g. al-zehlaoui or joseph zehlaoui (in arabic جوزيف زحلاوي) was born on november 2, 1950, in damascus, syria to georgi and mathil (baghdan) al zehlaoui. after receiving his elementary education at the st. john of damascus and al assiyeh schools in damascus, and his secondary education at balamand monastery in koura, northern lebanon, he studied philosophy at lebanese university in beirut and theology, languages and music at salonika university in greece. he is fluent in arabic, english and greek.