This evening, H.H. Pope Tawadros II attended the graduation ceremony of the Class of 2024 who obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Theological Sciences from the Clerical College in Alexandria. This was held in the theater attached to the Papal Residence in St. Mark’s Cathedral in Alexandria. Attending the ceremony were: H.G. Bishop Pavly (General Bishop of the churches of the Montazah Sector), and H.G. Bishop Elarion (General Bishop of the churches of the Western sector of Alexandria), H.G. Bishop Hermina (General Bishop of the churches of the Eastern sector of Alexandria), H.G. Bishop Mina (Bishop and Abbot of St. George’s Monastery in Al-Khatahtba), H.G. Bishop Aghapius (Bishop and Abbot of St Bishoy’s Monastery in Wadi El-Natroun), Hegumen Father Abraam Emil (General Deputy of the Patriarchate in Alexandria), and Hegumen Father Andrawes Matta (Deputy of the college).

The celebration included several segments, including a video of the reports of professors of various academic departments, a number of graduation projects and research papers submitted by graduates, a presentation of statistics of the various departments and the number of students, monks and nuns studying at the college. There was also a speech by Hegumen Andrawes Matta, during which he thanked Pope Tawadros for devoting his time to caring for education in the Church, appreciating the role played by His Holiness in developing the educational process at the Alexandria Clerical College. He presented statistics for the past year, the college’s new education system, the standards for studying and assessments, graduation projects, and research papers.

After that, a number of graduates presented five different graduation projects and discussed research papers in several branches of study at the college.

In his speech, His Holiness praised the important role played by the college and expressed his gratitude, happiness, and pride for all the research projects and papers presented using modern academic methodology. Pope Tawadros thanked all those working at the college, especially Hegumen Andrawes Matta, the college’s dean, and the faculty members, after the development of studying in its new, academic form.

His Holiness also thanked the presenters of the graduation projects for the valuable information they provided in an interesting, scientific manner. He reflected on the parable of the talents, explaining the types of talents that students obtained during their studies at the college. These are:
1- The talent of sacred time.
2- The talent of knowledge and education.
3- The talent of responsibility.

At the conclusion of the ceremony, the graduates recited the pledge for graduates of the Clerical College, and His Holiness honored them and handed them their graduation certificates.

It is worth noting that the new study system at the college is a system of credit hours based on regular attendance.

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