This evening, H.H. Pope Tawadros II attended the graduation ceremony of a new class from the Diploma of Theological and Ecclesiastical Studies at the Seminary of Alexandria. The event was held at the theatre adjacent to the papal residence at Saint Mark’s Cathedral in Alexandria.
The program included a video presentation featuring the views of the graduates, an overview of the graduation projects across the diploma’s various specializations, and an address by the monk Father Gregorios Ava Mina, representing the faculty. In his remarks, he outlined the concept and purpose of this specialized diploma, along with the application procedures and the various methods of assessment. Hegumen Andrawes Matta, Deputy Dean of the Seminary in Alexandria, also addressed the gathering. He welcomed His Holiness, expressed his appreciation for the Pope’s participation in the ceremony, and encouraged the eighty-nine graduates to pursue further academic degrees.
The celebration concluded with a speech by Pope Tawadros, in which he congratulated the graduates and expressed his gratitude to the faculty members for their invaluable efforts in preparing this cohort. His Holiness emphasized that, in light of current challenges, the Church has three essential needs:
- Righteous teachers, whose lives embody the sweetness of what they teach.
- Scholarly specialists, with academic credibility, capable of engaging with global openness, possessing a sound knowledge of the history of the Coptic Church, and engaging in in-depth study of other Churches such as the Syriac, Armenian, and Russian Churches etc…
- Loving servants, who live in godly reverence and radiate love in a world and society that hungers for it.
At the conclusion of the ceremony, the graduates recited the Seminary’s pledge. Pope Tawadros then honored them and presented the graduation certificates.
The event was attended by H.G. Bishop Pavly, General Bishop of the Montazah sector churches in Alexandria, H.G. Bishop Hermina, General Bishop of the East Alexandria sector churches, H.G. Bishop Mina, Bishop of Borg El-Arab and Amreya, Hegumen Abram Emil, General Deputy of the Patriarchate in Alexandria, as well as a number of priests from Alexandria.
