Today, Saturday, the Papal Residence in Cairo hosted the graduation ceremony for the seventh batch of the Ecumenical Institute for the Middle East, as well as the closing of the intensive course for the eighth batch, in the presence of H.G. Bishop Yolios, General Bishop of Old Cairo and Bishop of Public, Ecumenical, Social Services.

His Holiness Pope Tawadros II witnessed the graduation ceremony, and delivered a speech in which H.H. pointed out that the topic of ecumenism is an interesting topic, and is growing in all churches. Ecumenism is: Spirit, Thought and Action.

It is worth noting that the activities of the eighth batch were held for the first time in Egypt at the House of Anafora for two weeks, hosted by H.E. Metropolitan Thomas, and had been held in Lebanon since 2015.

Several speeches were also delivered by Dr. Zahi Azar, Director of the Institute, Father Dr. Camille William Semaan, Professor of the Bible at Catholic Theological Faculties, and Dr. Rifaat Fikri, Associate Secretary of the Middle East Council of Churches for the entire Evangelical Family, representing the leadership of the Evangelical Community in Egypt, Mrs. Elsy Wakil, Executive Director of the Institute. The ceremony was presented by Nora Edward, the institute’s media officer.
The works of the seventh batch were dedicated to the spirit of Mr Kabi Habib and the works of the eighth batch to the spirit of Mr Amir Ibrahim.

It is worth noting that the activities of the eighth session of the Ecumenical Institute for the Middle East began on the evening of Monday, September 18, 2023, at the Anafora House in Egypt. Twenty students come from five Arab countries: Lebanon, Iraq, Jordan, Sudan, and Egypt. The work of this session extended for two weeks and concluded today.

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