On December 17, 2020, His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II met Dr. Balasz Major, Head of the Hungarian Archeology Mission to Syria, at the Patriarchal Syriac Center in Budapest.

During the meeting, His Holiness discussed with Dr. Major the different activities that will be developed at the new Syriac Patriarchal Center in Budapest, including future seminars and hosting academic lectures and cultural programs at the Center. They also spoke about ways of cooperation between the Hungarian Archeological Mission in Syria and the Syriac Orthodox Patriarchate through EPDC and Antioch Syrian University.